SCIENTISTS from Edinburgh Napier University and Sappi have developed a low cost way to turn wood into a wonder material that could be used to build greener cars, thicken foods and even treat wounds.
It means Sappi will be able to produce the lightweight material on a commercially viable basis – and without producing large volumes of chemical waste water associated with existing techniques.
The energy-saving process will be used in a new nanocellulose producing pilot plant to be erected by Sappi.
“Nanocellulose, extracted from wood fibres, has a number of unique optical, barrier and strength properties,” said project coordinator Math Jennekens, R&D Director at Sappi Europe. “Unlike other lightweight, high-strength materials based on fossil fuels it is completely sustainable, making it very desirable as a new material for various industrial and transport applications.”
The versatile material has previously been produced by intensively processing wood pulp to release ultra-small, or ‘nano’ cellulose fibers – each so small that 2,000 could fit inside the width of a single strand of human hair.
But the Edinburgh Napier research team say they have been able to drastically reduce the amount of energy needed to power the process, as well as the need for expensive chemicals.
“What is significant about our process is the use of unique chemistry which has allowed us to very easily break down the wood pulp fibers into nanocellulose,” said Professor Rob English, who led the research with his Edinburgh Napier colleague Dr. Rhodri Williams.
“There is no expensive chemistry required and, most significantly, the chemicals used can be easily recycled and reused without generating large quantities of waste water.
“It produces a dry powder that can be readily redispersed in water and leaves the nanocellulose unmodified – effectively making its surface a chemical “blank canvas” and so more easily combined with other materials.
“The ability to bring all these attributes together have so far eluded materials scientists working in the field. It is very exciting.”
Nanocellulose produced at the proposed Sappi plant could be used in a wide range of industrial and everyday products and devices because of the way they can improve the properties of materials they are combined with, said Professor English.
“It could be used to thicken water-based products such as paints, foods and concrete,” he said. “Or when it’s used in plastics to make a composite it can replace glass fibers, which is very attractive in the production of the next generation of lighter, fuel-efficient vehicles.
“Because of its low oxygen permeability it could also be a possible replacement for plastic films in packaging.
The Latest on: Nanocellulose
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Nanocellulose” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Nanocellulose
- Freeze casting—a guide to creating hierarchically structured materialson April 25, 2024 at 9:20 am
Freeze casting is an elegant, cost-effective manufacturing technique to produce highly porous materials with custom-designed hierarchical architectures, well-defined pore orientation, and ...
- New Water Filter Upcycles Cellulose for Cleaner Wateron April 25, 2024 at 9:04 am
We are working with semi-crystalline nanocellulose, which can be produced from waste material, metal-containing substances are often used for similar purposes. Our material, on the other hand, is ...
- Nanofibers Rid Water of Hazardous Dyeson April 25, 2024 at 1:46 am
Dyes, such as those used in the textile industry, are a major environmental problem. At TU Wien, efficient filters have now been developed – based on cellulose waste.
- Nanofibers rid water of hazardous dyes: Researchers develop efficient filters based on cellulose wasteon April 24, 2024 at 8:22 am
Using waste to purify water may sound counterintuitive. But at TU Wien, this is exactly what has now been achieved. Researchers have developed a special nanostructure to filter a widespread class of ...
- From trees to triumph: Forestry as a plastic pollution solutionon April 23, 2024 at 4:10 pm
While a plastic-free life may seem hard to imagine, wood from responsibly managed plantations and forests presents a renewable, recyclable, and sustainable alternative to single-use plastics and other ...
- Global Nanocellulose Industry Report 2024 - Auto Industry Focus on Reducing Vehicular Weight Shifts Focus onto Nanocelluloseon April 22, 2024 at 4:53 am
The "Nanocellulose - Global Strategic Business Report" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.The global market for Nanocellulose estimated at US$618.6 Million in the year 2023, is ...
- How responsible forestry can be part of a plastic pollution solutionon April 19, 2024 at 3:00 am
While life without plastic might be hard to imagine, there is a renewable, recyclable and sustainable alternative to single-use plastics and many other fossil fuel derivatives: wood from responsibly ...
- Nanocellulose Is Increasingly Safe for Our Seas, According to Findings From a Study Conducted on Musselson April 18, 2024 at 5:53 am
Cellulose nanofibres represent a promising resource for multiple industrial sectors, but what is their impact on the marine environment? A study published in the prestigious journal Environmental ...
- Sustainable Packaging Revolution: Nanocellulose to Replace Plastics, Driving US$ 2.7 Billion Market by 2033on April 18, 2024 at 2:54 am
The global nanocellulose market value is forecast to increase from US$ 474.8 million in 2023 to US$ 2,725.5 million by 2033. Overall cellulose sales will soar at an impressive CAGR of 19.1% from 2023 ...
- Ocean environment safety of nanocellulose investigated in study of musselson April 17, 2024 at 12:45 pm
Cellulose nanofibers represent a promising resource for multiple industrial sectors, but what is their impact on the marine environment? A study published in Environmental Science: Nano recently ...
via Bing News