原淀粉-离子型双亲配体包合物的构建及其在造纸湿部的利用效能

Despite the fact that starch has found widespread use in paper production, there are still opportunities of utilizing the concept of inclusion complex formation for facilitating technological breakthroughs. On the basis of prior studies conducted by other researchers, the applicant and his team previously worked on “tailoring the critical properties of mineral fillers for papermaking by starch-oleic acid complexes and starch-rosin complexes”. The key hypothesis of the proposed project is directed towards the interaction between gelatinized native starch and ionic, amphiphilic ligands to generate inclusion complexes for papermaking wet-end applications. Specifically, in the presence of ligands that carry hydrophobic moieties, amylose chains or the long side-branches of amylopectin tend to form temporary hydrophobic helical cavities as a result of molecular recognition. These hydrophobic moieties would then be complexed within cavities. Ionic groups, however, would remain exterior to those helices. The resulting water-soluble, self-assembled inclusion complexes have polyelectrolyte-related features, allowing for efficient use in wet-end applications. In this project, only native starches, ligands, and water will be used as starting materials to generate inclusion complexes, and no byproduct will be formed. The delicate correlation of characteristics/categories of starting materials with host-guest interaction will be identified, with the ultimate goal of tunable formation of a series of cationic, anionic, and amphoteric inclusion complexes. Furthermore, the mechanisms governing targeted regulation of performances of starch inclusion complexes as regards retention and drainage, paper strength enhancement, antimicrobial activity, and surface modification of mineral filler particles and starch granules, will be elucidated. The accomplishment of the project will lead to the development of facile, easily scalable strategies for non-covalent formation of novel starch-based additives, which would provide a strong scientific foundation for potential commercial applications.

尽管淀粉在造纸中已得到广泛利用，以淀粉包合特性为基础的利用潜能的深入挖掘仍有很大空间。在前人研究成果的基础上，申请人及其研究团队曾围绕淀粉-油酸包合物和淀粉-松香包合物对造纸填料效能的调控规律进行了研究。本项目的核心设想为：当糊化后的原淀粉与离子型双亲配体接触时，直链淀粉及支链淀粉的长分支通过分子识别形成暂时性疏水空腔，随即诱导配体的疏水端进入其中，亲水性离子基团则裸露在外，进而自组装成具有聚电解质特性的包合物，使其具备在造纸湿部发挥关键效能的特性。拟仅以原淀粉、配体和水为原料，以无任何副产物形成的方式生成包合物，研究原料类型及特性与主客体包合的关联机制，实现一系列阳离子、阴离子和两性包合物的可控构建，揭示包合物在助留助滤、增强、抑菌、填料修饰和原淀粉颗粒修饰方面的效能定向调控机制。项目的顺利完成可为新型淀粉基助剂的非共价法高效创制提供一类可扩展的简便策略，为其潜在工业应用奠立科学基础。

尽管淀粉在造纸中已得到广泛利用，以淀粉包合特性为基础的利用潜能的深入挖掘仍有很大空间。在前人研究成果的基础上，申请人及其研究团队曾围绕淀粉-油酸包合物和淀粉-松香包合物对造纸填料效能的调控规律进行了研究。本项目的核心设想为：当糊化后的原淀粉与离子型双亲配体接触时，直链淀粉及支链淀粉的长分支通过分子识别形成暂时性疏水空腔，随即诱导配体的疏水端进入其中，亲水性离子基团则裸露在外，进而自组装成具有聚电解质特性的包合物，使其具备在造纸湿部发挥关键效能的特性。基于此设想，仅以原淀粉、配体和水为原料，以无任何副产物形成的方式生成包合物，探索了原料类型及特性与主客体包合的关联机制，探索了系列包合物在在造纸湿部的利用效能。同时，以本项目涉及的理论体系为依托，提出了“淀粉基超分子胶体”概念，对造纸湿部化学的超分子科学等多元内涵进行了解析，在造纸助剂的功能化利用方面开展了一些拓展性研究，探索了抑菌、阻燃、湿强、导电等功能的调控规律。研究工作可为“造纸助剂与湿部化学”这一传统领域的深入拓展提供一定依据，有助于推进淀粉基绿色助剂与功能纸等方面的技术产业化。