Browsing by Author "Tonon, Thierry"

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    Environmentally benign alginate extraction and fibres spinning from different European Brown algae species
    (Elsevier, 2022-12-08) Silva, Mariana P.; Badruddin, Ishrat Jahan; Tonon, Thierry; Rahatekar, Sameer S.; Gomez, Leonardo D.
    Applications of natural fibres are expanding, and sustainable alternatives are needed to support this growing demand. We investigated the production of fibres using alginates from Saccharina latissima (SAC), Laminaria digitata (LAM), Sacchoriza polyschides (SACC), and Himanthalia spp. (HIM). After extraction (3 % w/v biomass) using a sustainable protocol based on citric acid, crude alginate represented 61–65 % of the biomass dry weight for SAC and LAM, and 34–41 % for SACC and HIM when experiments were performed at small scale (1.5 g of starting material). Interestingly, scaling-up extraction (60 g of starting material) decreased yields to 26–30 %. SAC and LAM alginates had the highest M/G (mannuronic acid/guluronic acid) ratios and molecular weights when compared to those from SACC and HIM (M/G:1.98 and 2.23, MW: 302 and 362 kDa, vs 1.83 and 1.86, 268 and 168 kDa). When the four types of alginates were tested for spinning fibres cross-linked with CaCl2, only SAC and LAM alginates produced fibres. These fibres showed no clumps or cracks under stretching action and presented a similar Young's modulus (2.4 and 2.0 GPa). We have demonstrated that alginate extracted from S. latissima and L. digitata can be successfully spun into functional fibres cross-linked with CaCl2.
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    Modulating the properties of brown alga alginate-based fibers using natural cross-linkers for sustainable textile and fashion applications
    (American Chemical Society (ACS), 2024-09-03) Badruddin, Ishrat J; Silva, Mariana P; Tonon, Thierry; Gomez, Leonardo D; Rahatekar, Sameer S
    Seaweed-derived alginate shows promise in the textile industry as a sustainable alternative to synthetic and natural materials. However, challenges arise due to its low mechanical strength. We addressed this limitation by sustainably extracting alginates from European brown algae and employing novel manufacturing methods. Using natural cross-linkers, such as chitosan, ferulic acid, and citric acid, we have successfully modulated the mechanical properties of alginate fibers. Mechanical properties of ferulic acid and citric acid-cross-linked alginate solutions were spinnable, producing fibers with a diameter of 73–75 μm. Ferulic acid cross-linked alginate fibers exhibited stiffness, with a tensile strength of 52.97 MPa and a strain percentage of 20.77, mechanical properties comparable to those of wool, polyester, and rayon. In contrast, citric acid-cross-linked fibers showed partial elasticity, with a tensile strength of 14.35 MPa and a strain percentage of 45.53, comparable to those of nylon. This ability to control the mechanical properties of seaweed-derived fibers represents a significant advancement for their application in sustainable textiles and the fashion industry.