TEMPO oxidation and high-speed blending as a combined approach to disassemble bacterial cellulose

The aim of this study was to obtain bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibrils by using a high speed blender on BC previously oxidized with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinoxyl (TEMPO) radical. The resulting oxidized nanofibrillated bacterial cellulose (BCOXNF) was characterized chemically, thermally, and morphologically, presenting high crystallinity index (92%), great dispersion stability (zeta potential, − 52 mV) and appropriate morphology (40 nm in diameter). In addition, freeze dried nanofibrils were evaluated for their redispersibility in water, in order to check whether the process was effective in preventing hornification (nanofibril aggregation upon drying). In fact, the obtained material presented better redispersibility in water (zeta potential, − 63 mV) after freeze drying when compared to non-oxidized BC.