Preparation of artificial wood films with controlled biodegradability

Abstract

Artificial wood films containing cellulose, xylan, and lignin were easily prepared by the dissolution of wood components in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate followed by reconstitution with distilled water. The composition and characteristics of wood films were highly controllable and predictable through the variation of the concentration of each component in the wood solution. The water vapor solubility of the wood films was increased when the xylan content was increased and the content of lignin was decreased. The biodegradability of the artificial wood films was investigated with cellulase from Trichoderma viride. The relative degradability of the wood film prepared with 5% cellulose and 5% lignin was 42%, whereas that of the wood film made with 5% cellulose and 5% xylan was 189%. The biodegradability of cellulose in the wood films correlated well with the content of xylan and lignin, and it was enhanced when the xylan content was increased and the content of lignin was decreased. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42109.