Fractionation of nanocellulose by foam filter

The foam fractionation method was applied for nanocellulose. Experiments were carried out with enzymatically pretreated nano-fibrillated cellulose (NFC) from softwood, as well as commercial products. Narrow channels (plateaus) between bubbles prevent the flow of coarse particles along the water, so that foam acts like a filter. The advantage of the method is no risk of clogging, which could be a big problem for conventional filters or screens. Mean particle size (effective size by means of dynamic light scattering measurement) was reduced by foam fractionation, and the reduction range depended on the cellulose grade and the type of surfactant. The yield turned out to be low, probably because of particle aggregation due to the interaction with surfactant.