@article {50171,
	title = {Upcycling used lottery tickets: extraction, characterization, and life cycle assessment of cellulose nanofibers using a cradle-to-gate approach},
	journal = {Materials Chemistry and Physics},
	volume = {357},
	year = {2026},
	month = {JUN},
	pages = {132353},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {<p>
	This work examines a sustainable approach for the isolation, characterization and Life Cycle Impact Assessment of cellulose nanofibers derived from post-consumer lottery tickets. The lottery tickets were subjected to bleaching using 15\% H2O2 and 10\% NaOH in a 5:1 ratio at 80 degrees C, followed by acid hydrolysis using 5\% oxalic acid assisted with steam explosion. The isolated cellulose nanofibers were 16 to 36 nm diameter range with a crystallinity index of 84.5\%. The zeta potential value of-25.19 mV revealed moderate colloidal stability for nanocellulose suspension. The thermal stability of nanocellulose fibers was reported around 300 degrees C in N2 atmosphere. The films fabricated from the nanocellulose fibers reported a tensile strength of 4.6 +/- 0.90 MPa. The cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Impact Assessment revealed the impact of electricity consumption and bleaching process on the isolation of nanocellulose from waste lottery paper. These findings underline the potential of waste-derived CNFs for sus-tainable applications such as biodegradable packaging while promoting circular economy principles and green nanotechnology through waste valorisation, eco-friendly chemistry, and life cycle sustainability.</p>
},
	keywords = {Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), Life cycle impact assessment, Lottery tickets, Waste to wealth},
	issn = {0254-0584},
	doi = {10.1016/j.matchemphys.2026.132353},
	author = {Madhu, Athulya K. and Rosa, Derval Santos and de Oliveira, Sueli Aparecida and Ajithkumar, T. G. and Parameswaranpillai, Jyotishkumar and Badawi, Michael and Dominic, C. D. Midhun}
}
