Biodegradable polymers have supplied most of common packaging materials because they present several desired features. The purpose of this study was to prepare and investigate the physicochemical properties of Carboxymethyl cellulose based nanocomposite film containing inulin with three different concentrations (0, 10 and 20%) and cellulose nanofiber in three levels (0, 2. 5 and 5%). Thickness, Water vapor permeability (WVP), Water contact angle, mechanical properties, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-ray diffraction were evaluated for film samples. WVP decreased with adding cellulose nanofiber and inulin and water contact angle increased significantly (p <0. 05). The mechanical properties were also improved by adding the cellulose nanofibers. Whereas inulin had a negative effect on mechanical properties by decreasing tensile strength (UTS) and increasing elongation to break (ETB), this effect of inulin was compensated by cellulose nanofiber in the composite films containing inulin and cellulose nanofiber. The FE-SEM and X-ray diffraction results showed that the cellulose nanofiber and inulin were dispersed in the polymeric matrix and formed a dense and compact structure in compared to the control film. Results showed that cellulose nanofiber and inulin improve the properties of Carboxymethyl cellulose based nanocomposites and the obtained film can be used as a new choice in food packaging.

The present study aimed at producing bio-based superabsorbents with minimum use of polymeric materials and crosslinkers. Thus, nano-zeolites were used as high potential minerals for development of an environmentally friendly, durable, accessible, absorbent and cost-effective organic nano-hybrid composite in low amounts of crosslinkers and polymeric materials as an alternative for synthetic hydrogels. In the experimental stages, the modified heat-treated Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) powder developed in the previous research as well as the unmodified powder (control sample) were individually dispersed in distilled water and then a 3:1 ratio of nano-zeolite and hydroxyethyl cellulose together with citric acid as a crosslinker were added. The solution was then cast in a petri dish. The prepared samples were then measured and evaluated using centrifuge, absorption under load, deformation and swelling time tests. The results showed that the combination of nano-zeolite with heat-treated CMC increased absorption capacity both free and under load, fine toughness and higher absorption rate of hydrogel. In addition, thermal modification successfully decreased the need for crosslinking so that nanocomposite hydrogels had considerable mechanical hardness. Besides, this combination of hydrogels demonstrated the highest amount of absorption in centrifuge and AUL tests with the most desirable results in the swelling time. Also, the addition of nano-zeolite increased the water absorption in samples in the absence of hydroxyethyl cellulose, however, in presence of hydroxyethyl cellulose, two properties of absorption rate and toughness showed higher values.

Co-precipitation method was employed for the intercalation of Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) into layered double hydroxide (LDHs) sheets and preparation of CMC-LDH nanocomposites. CMC-LDH nanocomposites were synthesized by a reaction of basic solution of CMC with the mixed aqueous metallic salt solutions of M2+ (M2+ = Mg and Ni)/Al3+ ratio of 2. The structure and morphology of the synthesized CMC-LDH nanocomposites were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transition electron microscope (TEM) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Furthermore, the swelling behavior of the nanocomposites was studied in aqueous solutions of various pH. The intercalation of Carboxymethyl cellulose polymeric chains into the LDH sheets was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy and XRD analysis. The interlayer distance of Mg-Al-CMC-LDH and Ni-Al-CMC-LDH nanocomposites was found to be 1.73 and 2.23 nm, respectively. The XRD patterns confirmed a multilayer arrangement of CMC polymeric chains between the LDH sheets. TEM analysis revealed a highly intercalated morphology for the nanocomposites, which was agreed with XRD data. Thermal gravimetric analysis showed a better thermal resistance of Carboxymethyl cellulose in the presence of LDH sheets, especially for Mg-Al- CMC-LDH. Thermal stability of CMC in the nanocomposites increased for about 50oC and 133oC for Ni-Al-CMC-LDH and Mg-Al-CMC-LDH, respectively. The obtained nanocomposites revealed a pH-dependent swelling behavior. The swelling of the prepared nanocomposites increased slowly with increasing the pH from 2 to 10. However, their swelling ratio increased sharply in pH values above 10.

As the first part of a continued research on conversion of Carboxymethyl cellulosesodium salt (CMC) to useful  biopolymer-based materials, large numbers of cyanide functional groups were introduced onto CMC by grafting with polyacrylonitrile (PAN). The graft copolymerization reactions were carried out under nitrogen atmosphere using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as an initiator. Evidence of grafting was obtained by comparing FTIR spectra of CMC and the graft copolymer as well as solubility characteristics of the products. The synthetic conditions were systematically optimized through studying the effective factors including temperature and concentrations of initiator, acrylonitrile monomer, and CMC. The overall activation energy for the grafting was estimated to be 39.7 kJ/mole. Finally, the CMC-g-PAN copolymer was characterized thermally by using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis methods.

Graft copolymers of acrylamide on Carboxymethyl cellulose (d.s 0.4-0.5) were prepared by the use of ceric ion, ceric ion/reductant molecule initiator syst~ms in aqueous_medium. The graft copolymers were characterized by IR spectroscopy. The extent of graft copolymerisation was measured in terms of grafted chains as a function of both ceric ion and ceric ion/reductant molecule concentrations. It was found that introduction of reductant molecule resulted in up to 13 fold increase in percent graft levels. Flocculation of the copolymer samples and ungrafted Carboxymethyl cellulose were studied using synthetic effluent of Kaolin (0.25%) in distilled water. The flocculation capacity measured in terms of reduction in the turbidity was found to be highest for Carboxymethyl cellulose-g acrylamide and was dependent on the number and molecular size of the grafted polyacrylamide.