Person: Balea Martín, Ana
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First Name
Ana
Last Name
Balea Martín
Affiliation
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Faculty / Institute
Ciencias Químicas
Department
Ingeniería Química y de Materiales
Area
Ingeniería Química
Identifiers
14 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 10 of 14
Item In Situ Production and Application of Cellulose Nanofibers to Improve Recycled Paper Production(Molecules, 2019) Balea Martín, Ana; Sánchez Salvador, José Luis; Monte, María de la Concepción; Merayo Cuevas, Noemí; Negro Álvarez, Carlos Manuel; Blanco Suárez, ÁngelesThe recycled paper and board industry needs to improve the quality of their products to meet customer demands. The refining process and strength additives are commonly used to increase mechanical properties. Interfiber bonding can also be improved using cellulose nanofibers (CNF). A circular economy approach in the industrial implementation of CNF can be addressed through the in situ production of CNF using side cellulose streams of the process as raw material, avoiding transportation costs and reducing industrial wastes. Furthermore, CNF fit for use can be produced for specific industrial applications.This study evaluates the feasibility of using two types of recycled fibers, simulating the broke streams of two paper machines producing newsprint and liner for cartonboard, to produce in situ CNF for direct application on the original pulps, old newsprint (ONP), and old corrugated container (OCC), and to reinforce the final products. The CNF were obtained by 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation and homogenization at 600 bar. Handsheets were prepared with disintegrated recycled pulp and different amounts of CNF using a conventional three-component retention system. Results show that 3 wt.% of CNF produced with 10 mmol of NaClO per gram of dry pulp improve tensile index of ONP ~30%. For OCC, the same treatment and CNF dose increase tensile index above 60%. In both cases, CNF cause a deterioration of drainage, but this effect is effectively counteracted by optimising the retention system.Item Optimization of reagent consumption in TEMPO-mediated oxidation of Eucalyptus cellulose to obtain cellulose nanofibers(Cellulose, 2022) Xu, Hongyu; Sánchez Salvador, José Luis; Balea Martín, Ana; Blanco Suárez, Ángeles; Negro Álvarez, Carlos ManuelEucalyptus cellulose is usually pre-treated by oxidation with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO), NaBr and NaClO at pH 10.5 and 25 °C before the mechanical process required to obtain cellulose nanofibers (CNFs). In this study, different aspects to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of the TEMPO-mediated oxidation are analyzed. The optimization was carried out at different reaction times by modifying both the concentration of the NaClO and the amount of the catalysts (TEMPO and NaBr). Results show that the carboxyl groups increased up to 1.1 mmol/g with 5 mmol NaClO/g after 50 min, and that the catalyst concentration can be reduced to 0.025 mmol TEMPO/g and 0.5 mmol NaBr/g to minimize costs while maintaining the high fibrillation degree of the CNFs. The kinetic of the reaction can be considered as zero-order with respect to NaClO, and as first order with respect to cellulose. As a result of this work, the catalyst doses are reduced up to 75% compared to the most widely used catalyst doses (0.1 mmol/g TEMPO and 1 mmol/g NaBr), obtaining highly fibrillated CNFs with a lower environmental impact. This reduction of catalyst doses will reduce the costs and facilitate the implementation of CNF production at industrial scale.Item Comparison Of Mechanical And Chemical Nanocellulose As Additives To Reinforce Recycled Cardboard(Scientific Reports, 2020) Sánchez Salvador, José Luis; Balea Martín, Ana; Monte Lara, M. Concepción; Negro Álvarez, Carlos Manuel; Miller, Meaghan; Olson, James; Blanco Suárez, ÁngelesRecycling cycles cause a decrease in mechanical paper properties due to cellulose fiber degradation. The use of cellulose micro/nanofibers (CMF/CNF) to reinforce paper strength has been well studied, although it has been found to have negative effects on drainage. However, the application of CMF/CNF as paper reinforcement is affected by the nanocellulose type. Thus in this study mechanical and chemical treatments in CNF production were compared. Old corrugated container (OCC) pulp used to produce recycled cartonboard was reinforced with 1) CMF from never-dried northern bleached softwood kraft pulp (NBSK) highly refined in a 16-inch low consistency refiner at 1200 rpm and 25 kW of net power; and 2) CNF from NBSK pulp treated by TEMPO-mediated oxidation and homogenization at 600 bars. CMF/CNF and OCC were pulped at the same time and handsheets formed with cationic starch (CS) as retention system. Mechanical, drainage and flocculation properties were evaluated and compared. Data were also compared with other sources of TEMPO CNF. Results show an improvement in mechanical properties, drainage and flocculation when OCC is reinforced with CMF obtained with LCR. Therefore, high fibrillation was not necessary to improve mechanical paper or cardboard properties.Item Industrial Application of Nanocelluloses in Papermaking: A Review of Challenges, Technical Solutions, and Market Perspectives(Molecules, 2020) Balea Martín, Ana; Fuente González, Elena de la; Monte Lara, María Concepción; Merayo, Noemi; Campano Tiedra, Cristina; Negro Álvarez, Carlos Manuel; Blanco Suárez, ÁngelesNanocelluloses (NC) increase mechanical and barrier paper properties allowing the use of paper in applications actually covered by other materials. Despite the exponential increase of information, NC have not been fully implemented in papermaking yet, due to the challenges of using NC. This paper provides a review of the main new findings and emerging possibilities in this field by focusing mainly on: (i) Decoupling the effects of NC on wet-end and paper properties by using synergies with retention aids, chemical modification, or filler preflocculation; (ii) challenges and solutions related to the incorporation of NC in the pulp suspension and its effects on barrier properties; and (iii) characterization needs of NC at an industrial scale. The paper also includes the market perspectives. It is concluded that to solve these challenges specific solutions are required for each paper product and process, being the wet-end optimization the key to decouple NC effects on drainage and paper properties. Furthermore, the effect of NC on recyclability must also be taken into account to reach a compromise solution. This review helps readers find upscale options for using NC in papermaking and identify further research needs within this field.Item Critical comparison of the properties of cellulose nanofibers produced from softwood and hardwood through enzymatic, chemical and mechanical processes(International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2022) Sánchez Salvador, José Luis; Campano Tiedra, Cristina; Balea Martín, Ana; Tarrés, Quim; Delgado Aguilar, Marc; Mutjé, Pere; Blanco Suárez, Ángeles; Negro Álvarez, Carlos ManuelCurrent knowledge on the properties of different types of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) is fragmented. Properties variation is very extensive, depending on raw materials, effectiveness of the treatments to extract the cellulose fraction from the lignocellulosic biomass, pretreatments to facilitate cellulose fibrillation and final mechanical process to separate the microfibrils. Literature offers multiple parameters to characterize the CNFs prepared by different routes. However, there is a lack of an extensive guide to compare the CNFs. In this study, we perform a critical comparison of rheological, compositional, and morphological features of CNFs, produced from the most representative types of woody plants, hardwood and softwood, using different types and intensities of pretreatments, including enzymatic, chemical and mechanical ones, and varying the severity of mechanical treatment focusing on the relationship between macroscopic and microscopic parameters. This structured information will be exceedingly useful to select the most appropriate CNF for a certain application based on the most relevant parameters in each case.- Project number: 290
Item Desarrollo y aplicación de una metodología innovadora para realizar visitas técnicas virtuales a empresas y centros de investigación() Blanco Suárez, Ángeles; Balea Martín, Ana; Monte Lara, M. Concepción; Negro Álvarez, Carlos; de la Fuente González, Elena; Hierro Paredes, Eva; Romero De Ávila Hidalgo, María Dolores; Tijero Cruz, Antonio; Plaza Rodriguez, Jesus; Sánchez Salvador, José Luis; Ojembarrena Jiménez, Francisco de Borja; Xu, Hongyu; Gascó Guerrero, Antonio María; Márquez Negro, Alejandro; Hermosilla Redondo, Daphne; Aguado García, Sofía; Alarcón Mondéjar, Juan Ignacio; González Seade, Sofía; Sánchez Calatayud, TaniaEl objetivo del proyecto es desarrollar una metodología innovadora para realizar visitas técnicas virtuales a plantas industriales y/o centros de investigación con alumnos que podrán utilizarse en 8 asignaturas de 4 grados y 2 másteres de la UCM. Item Nanocelluloses: Natural-Based Materials for Fiber-Reinforced Cement Composites. A Critical Review(Polymers, 2019) Balea Martín, Ana; Fuente González, Elena de la; Blanco Suárez, Ángeles; Negro Álvarez, Carlos ManuelNanocelluloses (NCs) are bio-based nano-structurated products that open up new solutions for natural material sciences. Although a high number of papers have described their production, properties, and potential applications in multiple industrial sectors, no review to date has focused on their possible use in cementitious composites, which is the aim of this review. It describes how they could be applied in the manufacturing process as a raw material or an additive. NCs improve mechanical properties (internal bonding strength, modulus of elasticity (MOE), and modulus of rupture (MOR)), alter the rheology of the cement paste, and affect the physical properties of cements/cementitious composites. Additionally, the interactions between NCs and the other components of the fiber cement matrix are analyzed. The final result depends on many factors, such as the NC type, the dosage addition mode, the dispersion, the matrix type, and the curing process. However, all of these factors have not been studied in full so far. This review has also identified a number of unexplored areas of great potential for future research in relation to NC applications for fiber-reinforced cement composites, which will include their use as a surface treatment agent, an anionic flocculant, or an additive for wastewater treatment. Although NCs remain expensive, the market perspective is very promising.Item Gel Point as Measurement of Dispersion Degree of Nano-Cellulose Suspensions and Its Application in Papermaking(Nanomaterials, 2022) Sánchez Salvador, José Luis; Balea Martín, Ana; Negro Álvarez, Carlos Manuel; Monte Lara, María Concepción; Blanco Suárez, ÁngelesThe dispersion degree of cellulose micro and nanofibrils (CMFs/CNFs) in water suspensions is key to understand and optimize their effectiveness in several applications. In this study, we proposed a method, based on gel point (Øg), to calculate both aspect ratio and dispersion degree. This methodology was validated through the morphological characterization of CMFs/CNFs by Transmission Electronic Microscopy. The influence of dispersion degree on the reinforcement of recycled cardboard has also been evaluated by stirring CMF/CNF suspensions at different speeds. Results show that as stirring speed increases, Øg decreased to a minimum value, in which the aspect ratio is maximum. Then, Øg increased again. Suspensions with lower Øg, in the intermediate region of agitation present very good dispersion behavior with an open and spongy network structure, in which nanofibril clusters are totally dispersed. Higher stirring speeds shorten the nanofibrils and the networks collapse. Results show that the dispersion of the nanocellulose at the minimum Øg before their addition to the pulp, produces higher mechanical properties, even higher than when CNFs and pulp are agitated together. This method allows for the determination of the CMF/CNF dispersion, to maximize their behavior as strength agents. This knowledge would be crucial to understand why some industrial trials did not give satisfactory results.- Project number: 103
Item Innovación docente para sentar las bases docentes de la competición Chem-E-Car en España(2015) Negro Alvarez, Carlos; Tijero Miquel, Julio; Blanco Suárez, Ángeles; de la Fuente, Helena; Monte Lara, Concepción; Hermosilla Redondo, Daphne; Tijero Cruz, Antonio; Merayo Cuevas, Noemi; Cortijo Garrido, Luis; Latour Romero, Isabel; López Expósito, Patricio; Barndok, Helen; Blanco Jaen, Laura; Balea Martín, Ana; Plaza Rodriguez, Jesus; García Ochoa, Félix; Ladero Galán, Miguel; Guijarro Gil, Isabel; Esteban Serrano, Jesús; Ravelo Velasquez, Marianela; Ripoll Morales, Vanessa; Rodríguez Martín, Alberto; Wojtusik, Mateuzs; Pérez Trujillo, Francisco Javier; Mato Díaz, Sonia; Alcalá Penadés, German; Morena López, Susana de la; Santos Barahona, Héctor; Lasanta Carrasco, M. Isabel; García Martin, Gustavo; de Miguel Gamo, TeresaDesarrollo de herramientas docentes para la adquisición de la capacidad de controlar de forma segura una reacción química, concibiendo, diseñando y ejecutando un sistema cumpliendo los estándares de seguridad y medioambientales. Las herramientas desarrolladas son de aplicación a un posible implantación de la competición desarrollada por AIChE: "Chem-E-Car". Item Study of The Reaction Mechanism to Produce Nanocellulose-Graft-Chitosan Polymer(Nanomaterials, 2018) Sánchez Salvador, José Luis; Balea Martín, Ana; Monte Lara, María Concepción; Blanco Suárez, Ángeles; Negro Álvarez, Carlos ManuelCellulose and chitin are the most abundant polymeric materials in nature, capable of replacing conventional synthetic polymers. From them, cellulose nano/microfibers (CNFs/CMFs) and chitosan are obtained. Both polymers have been used separately in graft copolymerization but there are not many studies on the use of cellulose and chitosan together as copolymers and the reaction mechanism is unknown. In this work, the reaction mechanism to produce nano/microcellulose-graft-chitosan polymer has been studied. Recycled cellulose pulp was used, with and without a 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl-radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation pretreatment, to produce CNFs and CMFs, respectively. For chitosan, a low-molecular weight product dissolved in an acetic acid solution was prepared. Grafted polymers were synthesized using a microwave digester. Results showed that TEMPO-mediated oxidation as the cellulose pretreatment is a key factor to obtain the grafted polymer CNF-g-CH. A reaction mechanism has been proposed where the amino group of chitosan attacks the carboxylic group of oxidized cellulose, since non-oxidized CMFs do not achieve the desired grafting. 13C NMR spectra, elemental analysis and SEM images validated the proposed mechanism. Finally, CNF-g-CH was used as a promising material to remove water-based inks and dyes from wastewater.