Disadvantages of TEMPO oxidized nanocellulose process

TEMPO (2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl) oxidation method used to prepare nanocellulose has many advantages, such as mild reaction conditions and high selective oxidation. However, it also has some disadvantages:

1. High cost : The cost of oxidants such as TEMPO and sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) is relatively high, which limits large-scale industrial applications.

2. Environmental issues : Sodium hypochlorite and potassium hypochlorite used in the reaction are strong oxidants, which may cause pollution to the environment and require proper treatment of wastewater and by-products.

3. Complex control of reaction conditions : The reaction conditions of TEMPO oxidation method (such as pH, temperature, oxidant concentration, etc.) need to be strictly controlled, otherwise it may lead to excessive oxidation or insufficient oxidation of cellulose, which will affect the quality of the final product.

4. Long reaction time : In some cases, the TEMPO oxidation process may require a longer reaction time to achieve the ideal oxidation level, which increases the production cycle.

5. Changes in material properties : Because oxidation changes the chemical structure of cellulose molecules, some applications may find that TEMPO oxidized nanocellulose has less mechanical or thermal stability than untreated cellulose.

6. Safety : Since strong oxidants and organic reagents are involved, special attention should be paid to laboratory safety during operation to avoid contact and inhalation of harmful substances.

These disadvantages may affect the selection of TEMPO oxidation method in some application scenarios and require trade-offs and optimization in actual operations.