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[Display omitted] • Cellulose nanofibrils based lightweight porous material (NCLPM) was prepared. • Glutaraldehyde crosslinking in ethanol and atmospheric drying process were adopted. • Introducing gelatin improved microstructure and mechanical properties of NCLPM. • Gelatin addition can adjust microstructure and physicochemical properties of NCLPM. • Safety of NCLPM was evaluated using nematode cytotoxicity assay. The composite lightweight porous material (TOCNF-G-LPM) based on TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibril (TOCNF) and gelatin were facilely prepared by ambient pressure drying using glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agent. The influence of gelatin addition on the physicochemical properties of TOCNF-G-LPM was investigated. The long-size entangled structure of TOCNF maintained the skeleton network of TOCNF-G-LPM while gelatin can adjust the characteristics of highly porous network (porosity of 98.53%–97.40%) and light weight (density of 0.0236–0.0372 g/cm3) with increasing gelatin concentration (0.2–1.0 wt%). The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) indicated that the internal structure of TOCNF-G-LPM became more ordered, uniform and denser as gelatin concentration increased. Introducing gelatin decreased water and oil absorption properties, but improved the thermal, mechanical properties and shape recovery ability of TOCNF-G-LPM at appropriate addition. Furthermore, TOCNF-G-LPM showed no significant effect on the growth and reproduction of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), confirming a good biocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low concentrations of gelatin (0.02–0.20 wt%) were applied to regulate the surface and interface properties of CNC (0.50 wt%) by forming CNC/G complexes. As gelatin concentration increased from 0 to 0.20 wt%, the potential value of CNC/G gradually changed from −44.50 to −17.93 mV. Additionally, various gelatin concentrations led to micromorphology changes of CNC/G complexes, with the formation of particle interconnection at gelatin concentration of 0.10 wt%, followed by network structure and enhanced aggregation at gelatin concentration of 0.15 and 0.20 wt% respectively. The water contact angle (25.91°-80.23°) and interface adsorption capacity of CNC/G were improved due to hydrophobic group exposure of gelatin. When gelatin concentration exceeded 0.10 % at a fixed oil phase volume fraction (75 %), a high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) stabilized by CNC/G can be formed with a good storage stability. The rheological and microstructure results of HIPE confirmed that low gelatin concentration can assist CNC to form stable emulsion structure. Especially, the auxiliary stabilization mechanism of various gelatin concentration was different. CNC/G-0.10 % and CNC/G-0.15 % stabilized HIPE mainly depended on the enhanced interface adsorption and network structure, while CNC/G-0.20 % stabilized HIPE mainly relied on enhanced interface adsorption/accumulation due to weak electrostatic repulsion and aggregate granular morphology of CNC/G-0.20 %. [Display omitted] • Gelatin and CNC were complexed via hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction. • Low gelatin concentration affected the surface and interface properties of CNC. • High internal phase emulsion (HIPE) was prepared by a one-step emulsification. • Low gelatin concentration (0.1 % ∼ 0.2 %) can assist CNC (0.5 %) to stabilize HIPE. • Gelatin content can adjust the interface adsorption and network formation of CNC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]