Oligomeric cellulose chemicals – realising bulk and fine chemical applications

Starch, due to its water solubility, has been heavily utilised in chemical processing, e.g., in paper and packaging or as surfactants. However, it is a 2nd generation feedstock (competes with food production) limiting the scale of use. Cellulose does not have the same limitations and can be considered as a sustainable feedstock. However, production of oligomeric cellulose-based chemicals is complicated by its crystalline nature. This has restricted its use in innovation. Combined with VTTs experience in piloting cellulose processing technologies and chemical expertise, we propose a low-cost method for production of cellooligomer-based chemicals for applications where we can replace fossil-based synthetic chemicals in use today, such as in fibre spinning, surfactants or other industrial chemical additives