Title
Bio-based cellulose-biochar-PEG cryogels for thermal insulation
Authors
LÍDIA K. LAZZARI, HEITOR LUIZ ORNAGHI JR., ROBERTA MOTTA NEVES, EDUARDO FISCHER KERCHE, ADEMIR J. ZATTERA and RUTH M. C. SANTANA

Received September 5, 2023
Published Volume 58 Issue 1-2 January-February
Keywords bio-based cryogel, cellulose, biochar, dynamic-mechanical properties

Abstract
Unbleached cellulose from Pinus elliotti and polyethylene glycol (PEG) were used for the manufacturing of bio-based cellulose-biochar-PEG cryogels. The cryogels were prepared by the sol-gel method, where biochar was added to a cellulose/PEG suspension, and subsequently freeze-dried. Also, biochar from poultry little waste was employed as reinforcement, aiming to increase mechanical and thermal properties. The main resuls showed that, for cryogels with biochar (5.0 wt% in relation to cellulose) and PEG (5.0 wt% in relation to the cryogels mass), an increase of the compressive strength by about 30% was achieved. The thermal conductivity of the same samples with biochar reached similar results (0.041 W m-1.K-1). Therefore, the produced material has potential to be applied as thermal insulator as an environmentally friendly alternative, with the properties that meet the requirements for traditional thermal insulators.