Nanocellulose/Poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) Interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels for removal of Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions

Suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) having different allomorphs were prepared from pulp and microcrystalline cellulose. Comparison found varying particle features. In situ observation of cellulose enzymes interacting with CNC I, II and III by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) found diverse adsorption of the enzymes on the CNC. Greater degradation to glucose was revealed for short rodlike CNC II and thin needle-like CNC III than CNC I, which were mainly due to their greater d-spacings for the (110) (CNC II) and (1-10) (CNC III) planes compared to the (200) spacing for CNC I. According to the model crystal structures, the surface areas for those planes where the enzymes would adsorb were also lager for CNC II and III. However, CNC III had significantly enhanced adsorption capability compared to the low affinity of CNC II.