Synthesis and Characterization of Cellulose-Based Bio-Polymer Aerogel Isolated from Waste of Blueberry Tree (Vaccinium myrtillus)

Abstract

Abstract: Cellulose aerogel (CA) with a highly porous structure is environmentally friendly, thermally stable, and flame retardant. These properties in material worlds have attracted large interest as a potentially industrial material. In this paper, cellulose aerogel with flame retardant feature was produced from pruned branches and bushes of blueberry wastes (PBW). Firstly, cellulose raw material was obtained from these wastes and then, cellulose aerogel was prepared via freeze-drying, followed by cellulose hydrogel production. The work showed that a three dimensional network aerogel structure was prepared from NaOH/Urea as scaffold solution. The present cellulose aerogel has excellent flame retardant property, which can extinguish within 140 s. By the way, it was inferred that thermal stability performance of cellulose aerogel could be an efficient potential thermal insulating material. Besides, this process is sustainable, easily available at low cost, and suitable for industrial applications.