Full-Components Utilization of Cellulose Nanofibrils and Artificial Stone Wastes for Cement Enhancement

Abstract

Abstract With the concept of carbon neutrality, the value-added utilization of biomass materials and solid wastes has become a cutting-edge topic. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) have received much attention due to their excellent properties in terms of high aspect ratio, specific strength and specific surface area, but their large-scale preparation remains a great challenge. Here, we propose a facile aqueous solution method for the fabrication of CNFs through artificial stone wastes (ASWs)-assisted supramolecular interfacial interactions for the full-components utilization in cement mortar materials. The strong hydrogen bonding interaction between ASWs and CNFs can effectively prevent the intramolecular hydrogen bonding of CNFs and agglomeration of ASWs, while improving the stability of CNFs/ASWs suspensions. The resulted CNFs/ASWs with active hydroxyl or carboxyl group can improve the flexural and compressive strength of cement (30.8% and 37.8% higher than that of pristine cement, respectively) by embedding into the defects of cement mortar and promoting the hydration process of cement. This work not only provides a new idea for the large-scale preparation of biomass nanomaterials, but also opens up the full-components value-added utilization of biomass and solid wastes in cement materials.