Biofunctional cellulose fibers from mulberry bast via suberin nanointerface engineering

Wenxiang Zhai; Yijing Zhong; Wei Zhang; Zechun Ren; Tong Ji; Kejiao Ding; Song Chen; Xinli Wei; Liping Cai; Changlei Xia; Min Xu

doi:10.1016/j.jobab.2025.07.002

Volume 10 Issue 4

Nov. 2025

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Article Navigation > Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts > 2025 > 10(4): 589-600

Wenxiang Zhai, Yijing Zhong, Wei Zhang, Zechun Ren, Tong Ji, Kejiao Ding, Song Chen, Xinli Wei, Liping Cai, Changlei Xia, Min Xu. Biofunctional cellulose fibers from mulberry bast via suberin nanointerface engineering[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2025, 10(4): 589-600. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2025.07.002

Citation:

Wenxiang Zhai, Yijing Zhong, Wei Zhang, Zechun Ren, Tong Ji, Kejiao Ding, Song Chen, Xinli Wei, Liping Cai, Changlei Xia, Min Xu. Biofunctional cellulose fibers from mulberry bast via suberin nanointerface engineering[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2025, 10(4): 589-600. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2025.07.002

Citation:

Wenxiang Zhai, Yijing Zhong, Wei Zhang, Zechun Ren, Tong Ji, Kejiao Ding, Song Chen, Xinli Wei, Liping Cai, Changlei Xia, Min Xu. Biofunctional cellulose fibers from mulberry bast via suberin nanointerface engineering[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2025, 10(4): 589-600. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2025.07.002

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Biofunctional cellulose fibers from mulberry bast via suberin nanointerface engineering

doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2025.07.002

a.
Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science & Technology (Ministry of Education), Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
b.
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China
c.
Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China

More Information

Corresponding author: E-mail address: dl-xumin@nefu.edu.cn (M. Xu)
Received Date: 2025-04-22
Accepted Date: 2025-07-02
Rev Recd Date: 2025-05-27

Available Online: 2025-07-19

Publish Date: 2025-11-01

Abstract

Abstract

The development of yarn-free cellulose fibers from natural biomass provides a low-energy and environmentally conscious alternative for producing functional textiles. This study introduced a method for producing yarn-free cellulose fibers from the bast of Broussonetia papyrifera (paper mulberry), a fast-growing plant that does not require pesticides. The fibers were extracted using a mild alkaline treatment that preserved their alignment and allowed them to be knitted directly without traditional spinning. A coating of suberin, obtained from cork bark waste (Quercus variabilis), was applied using ethanol dispersion and fixed by heating at 110 ℃. The coating improved the fiber’s antibacterial performance, moisture response, and mechanical strength (tensile strength: 0.43 GPa; Young’s modulus: 6.4 GPa), while keeping the material flexible and washable. The suberin layer could be removed and reused through a recycling process involving ionic liquids, allowing over 95% recovery after multiple cycles. A life cycle assessment showed that this fiber system had a lower environmental impact compared to conventional synthetic textile fibers. Overall, this work provided a practical and recyclable approach to making functional textiles from natural plant materials.
- Lignocellulosic biomass,
- Paper mulberry bast fibers,
- Suberin nanointerfaces,
- Top-down fiber extraction,
- Antibacterial coatings

Declaration of competing interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Supplementary materials
Supplementary material associated with this article can be found, in the online version, at doi:10.1016/j.jobab.2025.07.002.
Peer review under the responsibility of Editorial Office of Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts.

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