A new degradable sand fixing agent with improved antifreeze and moisture retention abilities based on carboxymethyl cellulose

To alleviate the wind-blown sand issues in high-altitude or high-latitude desert areas with harsh environmental conditions, chemical sand-fixing agents should exhibit exceptional freeze resistance and water retention properties. Simple and cost-effective approaches were used to incorporate corn starch with excellent hydrophilic and biodegradable properties, gelatin with strong thermal stability, and glycerol triglycidyl ether (GTE) containing ether bonds with antifreeze properties into carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) derived from corn stalks. The hydroxyl or carboxyl groups in the new CMC-based sand-fixing agents, which exhibited enhanced antifreeze properties, could interact with SiO2 and Ca2 + ions in the sand, resulting in the formation of an intricate crosslinked network framework. The primary volatile compounds emitted during the thermal degradation of these agents were CO2, water vapor, and minor quantities of ethers. After incorporating 70 wt% GTE, the CMC-based consolidation layer achieved the highest water retention rate of 46.24 % and a consolidation strength of 0.95 MPa at −20°C. This strength was below the maximum penetration capability required for herbaceous plant seed germination (2.2 MPa), ensuring that it did not impede plant growth. Furthermore, the consolidation layer was able to withstand a wind speed of 35 m/s at −20°C, equivalent to a level 12 typhoon, for 20 min without cracking. As a result, the CMC-based sand-fixing agent containing 70 wt% GTE was ideal for addressing vegetation degradation caused by freeze–thaw desertification in high-altitude sandy regions. The new agents could advance the production and application of biomass-based sand-fixing materials, and improve the safety and versatility of chemical sand-fixing practices in cold desert regions.