A bioinspired, strong, all-natural, superhydrophobic cellulose-based straw.

The promotion of cellulose-based paper straws is one of the important ways to improve white pollution nowadays. However, developing composite straws that are simultaneously highly biocompatible, safe, and non-toxic and that overcome the low water stability and physical strength problems caused by the inherent hydrophilicity of the raw material cellulose has become an important challenge in the development process. In this study, a new all-natural superhydrophobic straw (CFS) made of a composite of cellulose nanofibers and stearic acid was introduced. Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid derived from plant and animal oils. Inspired by the specific hydrophobicity of sugarcane cane peel, a green straw with both superhydrophobicity (water contact angle up to 153°) and remarkable mechanical strength (tensile strength up to 67.15 MPa) was developed by controlling the hydrophobic modification conditions of stearic acid through solvent vaporization. Furthermore, the composite straws under wet conditions had lower water absorption and exhibited excellent wet tensile strength compared to commercial paper straws. In addition, the composite straw without the addition of chemical binders avoids the defects of non-renewable products, fits into the global green development concept, and brings new strategies for the development of cellulose-based materials. [Display omitted] • Superhydrophobic CFS straws inspired by sugarcane epidermis. • CFS straws exhibited remarkable mechanical strength. • CFS straws showed the property of being easily recycled and reused. • CFS straws presented new options for plastic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]