Abstract
High-consistency enzymatic fibrillation (HefCel) technology offers a cost-efficient way to produce fibrillated cellulose materials at high consistency (20-40%). The process is simple, consisting only of few steps and can utilize existing industrial equipment. The fibrillation degree and thus the material properties can be controlled by the process conditions. The produced fibrillated cellulose material is at high consistency and easy to handle. The higher dry matter content makes off-site production and transportation more feasible compared to traditional CNFs. In addition, HefCel material is not gel-like, which enhances the water removal.Recent developments in HefCel technogy include processing of new raw materials, novel applications for the material as well as investment in new equipment at VTT to enable up-scaling of the technology. In this presentation, these developments will be outlined. The new raw materials tested include for example soda-ethanol pulps produced from Argentinian pine chips, processed in ERANET-LAC project “ValBio-3D: Valorization of residual biomass for advanced 3D materials”. Despite of some lignin remaining in the pulps, the enzymatic fibrillation succeeded, especially when the oxygen-delignified pulp was treated. HefCel material has shown potential in many applications, such as in barrier films, as strengthening additive in middle ply of board and in novel type of energy storages. One novel application utilizing the excellent oxygen, grease and gas barrier properties of cellulose nanomaterial films is an all-cellulosic packaging material from HefCel and fatty acid esters. It is a 3-layer barrier film structure consisting of two layers of thermoplastic cellulose with a HefCel film layer sandwiched in-between. Thermoplastic cellulose films act as moisture and water vapour barrier as well as enables heat sealing. The material is 100% renewable, compostable in industrial composters and processable with existing machinery. One important aspect of any new processing technology is its feasibility for up-scaling and commercial production. One step towards large-scale HefCel production will be taken later this year when a new mixer with a capacity of 70 l is installed at VTT. Operating the process at this scale will result in a more detailed information about the technical and economic feasibility of the technology.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - 26 Sept 2018 |
| MoE publication type | Not Eligible |
| Event | Recent advances in cellulose nanotechnology research: Production, characterization and applications - PFI RISE, Trondheim, Norway Duration: 26 Sept 2018 → 27 Sept 2018 Conference number: 7 |
Seminar
| Seminar | Recent advances in cellulose nanotechnology research |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Norway |
| City | Trondheim |
| Period | 26/09/18 → 27/09/18 |
| Other | 7th seminar in a successful series of biannual meetings held since 2006. |
Keywords
- cellulose nanofibrils
- high consistency refining
- enzymatic treatment
- barrier films
- packaging