Directed Biosynthesis of Oriented Crystalline Cellulose for Advanced Composite Fibers
Abstract
The overarching objective of this work is to develop composite materials based on bacterial cellulose for military use using renewable, sustainable, and environmentally-friendly prudent processing and manufacturing techniques. Approaches to produce oriented crystalline structures to enable the formation of next-generation fibers whose properties will allow the synthesis of composites possessing improved strength and functionality will be investigated. The bacterial cellulose fibers will be produced from renewable non-food agricultural products via cultivation of bacterial species already used in food-production. The research proposed here will provide critical high-performance materials that are based on sustainable resources and green, renewable processing. A process for cellulose biosynthesis by bacteria to yield unidirectionally-oriented nanofibers formed as fibrous sheets by application of external electrical fields was devised. Approaches to synthesize novel bacterial cellulose composite materials based on task-specific ionic liquids and graphene oxide were studied. Methods to optimize the carbon yield from bacterial cellulose were also investigated.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 03, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA572961
Entities
People
- Barbara Evans
- Gary A Baker
- Hugh O'neill
- Roberto Benson
Organizations
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory