Natural Plastics

Scientists at Empa have designed a production method for nanocellulose powder, a raw material used in the production of polymer composites that can be utilized as a filter and membrane material in biomedical applications and in lightweight structures for the automobile market.

The cellulose researchers at the Wood Laboratory of Empa have processed wood pulp to isolate cellulose nanofibers, which are strongly interlinked and have a length of several micrometers and a thickness of a few nanometers. The surface area of the material is extremely large, where physical-chemical reactions of materials such as polymer compounds, water, inorganic and organic chemicals can take place. Thus, the highly reactive biodegradable raw material finds use in far-reaching technical applications.

The isolated nanocellulose from the wood pulp is originally in the form of an aquatic suspension. During the drying process, the cellulose nanofibers join together producing rough clumps, resulting in the loss of the material’s excellent mechanical properties. The method developed by the Empa scientists enables the material to be dried out without the formation of clumps and becoming rough.

The researchers treated the cellulose utilizing a completely harmless technique that can be executed easily on a large scale and even ideal for the food industry applications. When re-dissolved in water, the dried nanocellulose powder produced by the method demonstrates the same superior properties of unmodified, undried cellulose.

This new method allows the production of a better replacement to traditional cellulose suspensions used in the manufacture of bio-nanocomposite materials. The suspensions currently being utilized comprise more than 90% of water, which results in high logistics expenditures and raises the risk of degradation by fungi or bacteria. Empa researchers used the innovative nanocellulose powder to strengthen hydrogels, adhesives and biodegradable synthetics.

Source: http://www.empa.ch

The world's first pilot plant to produce nanocellulose was inaugurated yesterday by research company Innventia in Stockholm. The facility makes it possible to produced nanocellulose on a large scale for the first time and is an important step towards the industrialisation of a new energy efficient manufacturing process.
“ With larger volumes, we can study the use of nanocellulose in applications that require more material, "says Michael Ankerfors a Research Manager at Innventia.

Nano Cellulose is a material derived from wood fibres. It has exceptional strength characteristics of the class with Kevlar, a light weight material. However, in contrast to Kevlar and other materials based on fossil fuels, nanocellulose is completely renewable.

Previously, the production process was much too energy-consuming, for the commercialisation of nanocellulose to be conceivable, but due to the process developments carried out by Innventia, the energy consumption has been reduced by a total of 98%, representing a saving of 29 000 kWh per tonne.  To give a comparison, the heating of a normal sized house takes approximately 18,000 kWh per year.

“For a long time, there’s been a great deal of interest from the industry in utilising nanocellulose as a strengthening component in other materials, such as paper, composites and plastics,” relates Mikael Ankerfors.   We can also create new, more efficient and renewable barrier films for food packaging.
In order to develop applications, such as paper and composite materials, the raw material produced in a lab is not sufficient. The new pilot plant is designed for a production at 100 kg per day.

“ We can now make runs at our pilot paper machine. We now also have the opportunity to continue the development of the process and to show interested parties how it could work in reality. “

All sub-steps are now in place in the process and last week the production began.
“As the only company in the world, we’re extremely proud to be able to offer the industry real opportunities to participate in this field, which is so important for the future,” concludes Mikael. “Now we begin to work towards the next step: the installation of a full scale process with a partner in the industry.”

The inauguration was attended by representatives from the industry as well as, public funders and participants in research related to nanocellulose. Besides looking at the new facility opportunity was offered to take a closer look at samples of nanocellulose and various examples of applications such as barrier films, textile fibers and nano-foams made from nano-cellulose.

Source: www.innventia.com

The partnership will conduct research on sugarcane bagasse, coconut husks, specific varieties of colored cotton, sisal and curaua fibers and agricultural waste to identify new raw material sources

 

Embrapa and Braskem are forming a scientific and technological cooperation agreement to identify cellulose nanofibers for industrial use from among various different vegetable sources, targeting those that offer the highest yields and best performance and are also biodegradable. The project, which will be officially launched on November 25 at the inauguration ceremony for the General Head of Embrapa Instrumentação, Luiz Henrique Capparelli Mattoso, will receive support from the São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Fapesp) and the Foundation for Industrial Research and Advancement (Fipai).
With an execution period of three years and R$500,000 in funding, the project is part of the Program to Support Research in Partnership with Technological Innovation (PITE) of Fapesp, which will contribute R$252,000 in funds, while the remaining R$248,000 will be provided by Braskem. The program will provide financial support for cooperative research projects to be executed in partnership with both public and private university and research institutions in the state of São Paulo. 
The first step was taken when Braskem and Fapesp signed an agreement for scientific and technological cooperation under the scope of the PITE Program, which means that Braskem can now select an institution to conduct research on vegetal sources. The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), through Embrapa Instrumentação, one of its units located in São Carlos, São Paulo, is the partner institution for this research and has a long history of working together with industry.
According to General Head Luiz Henrique Capparelli Mattoso, the agreement is an important opportunity to strengthen relations with industry and will pose a challenge for science to develop technologies that can effectively be adopted, based on the market's needs for new materials derived from agricultural resources.
"This integration brings important benefits for both parties, since it provides the ideal environment for the development of scientific research and applied innovation," said Edmundo Aires, Braskem’s Vice-President of Technology and Innovation.
Three researchers and five fellows from Embrapa Instrumentação will be involved in the study to develop nanofibers from bagasse, coconut husk, specific varieties of colored cotton, sisal, curaua and agricultural waste. All the materials will be classified in accordance with the various techniques adopted by Embrapa Instrumentação, which has been studying the extraction of nanofibers for years. 
Braskem
Braskem is the largest petrochemical producer in the Americas and the first company in the world to produce certified green polyethylene. Its strategy is based on competitiveness and technological autonomy in line with its commitment to foster sustainable development.
At the start of the year, Braskem also entered into a partnership with Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio), a laboratory located in Campinas, São Paulo, for the installation of a laboratory to be used by the company’s research team. In addition to its own facilities, Braskem will also have access to LNBio’s state-of-the-art equipment. The objective is to conduct research in the field of biotechnology, seeking to develop products that are sustainable and competitive economically, always using raw materials derived from renewable resources.
Braskem has the largest and most modern research complex in the Latin America, the Braskem Technology and Innovation Center, which has units at the Triunfo Complex in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, as well as in the state of São Paulo and in the United States. The Center works to develop products, processes, applications and new markets in partnership with Braskem's clients, i.e., the plastic manufacturers that form the third generation of the production chain. In this way, Braskem adds value to and increases the competitiveness of the entire petrochemicals and plastics production chain. Today Braskem produces over 15 million tons of thermoplastic resins and other petrochemical products per year.

Source: www.braskem.com.br

From new medical applications, to the latest gadgets and consumer products, innovative nanotechnology is pushing the boundaries of what we believed possible. But for this technology to develop further, faster and better we need a clear understanding and a logical classification of nanomaterials. 
ISO has therefore published a new technical report, ISO/TR 11360:2010, Nanotechnologies – Methodology for the classification and categorization of nanomaterials, offering a comprehensive, globally harmonized methodology for classifying nanomaterials.

Nanotechnology deals with structures between 1 to 100 nanometers. Applications are wide, and range from computer memory storage to sunscreens. Nanomaterials currently in existence exhibit various physical, chemical, mechanical, optical, magnetic and biological properties, as well as different internal/external structures.

Because scientists and researches in this new field have very diverse backgrounds, and are working on different applications, there are now many divergent understandings and assumptions associated with emerging scientific concepts in this area. This is causing poor communication, lack of interoperability among systems and duplication of efforts.

ISO/TR 11360 introduces a system called the “nano-tree”, which places nanotechnology concepts into a logical context by indicating relationships among them as a branching out tree. The most basic and common elements are defined as the main trunk of the tree, and nanomaterials are then differentiated in terms of structure, chemical nature and other properties.

“The document provides users with a structured view of nanotechnology, and facilitates a common understanding of its concepts,” says Peter Hatto, Chair of the committee that developed the standard (ISO/TC 229). “It offers a systematic approach and a commonsensical hierarchy”.

Dr. Hatto adds, “The benefits for this emerging field are enormous. Most importantly, ISO/TR 11360 will promote clear and useful communication amongst industry consumers, governments and regulatory bodies”.
The document will be useful to a wide range of scientific and engineering disciplines engaged in research, industry and government.

Source: http://www.iso.org

The world’s first pilot plant for making it possible to work with nanocellulose on a large scale is currently under construction in Stockholm. With this major venture, Innventia, a research company, is taking a decisive step towards the industrialisation of its energy efficient production process for the new super material.
Nanocellulose is a material that is extracted from wood fibres. It has exceptional strength properties, being more or less as strong as Kevlar, a light weight material. However, in contrast to Kevlar and other materials based on fossil fuels, nanocellulose is completely renewable.
“For a long time, there’s been a great deal of interest from industry in utilising nanocellulose as a strengthening component in other materials, such as paper, composites and plastics,” relates Mikael Ankerfors, a Research Manager at Innventia. “We can also create new, more effective, environmentally compatible and renewable barrier films for packages used for foodstuffs.”
Nanocellulose, a super material, is going to have many areas of use in the future. For example, it can be used to make membranes and other reserve parts for the human body.  It can also be used as a provider of viscosity in foodstuffs; in other words, it is able to replace carbohydrates and other additives in foodstuffs, which are known as low calorie products.
“Nanocellulose will be something revolutionary for the foodstuff industry too,” continues Mikael.
For the first time, nanocellulose will be able to be produced on a large scale, with the process being economically efficient. Previously, the homogenising stage in the process was much too demanding, when it comes to energy. Due to the process developments carried out by Innventia, the energy consumption has been reduced by a total of 98%.
Mikael explains, “This is equivalent to a saving of 29,000 kWh per tonne. To give a comparison, consider that the heating of a normal sized house takes approximately 18,000 kWh per year. For a full-sized mill that furnishes a paper mill with nanocellulose, this means a saving in energy that would be equivalent to 8,000 houses a year.”
Innventia is making a major investment in this technology by constructing the first pilot plant in the world for producing on a larger scale.
“This is a natural step in the investment we’re making in nanocellulose. In order to develop applications, such as paper and composite materials, the raw material produced in a lab is not sufficient. As the only company in the world, we’re extremely proud to be able to offer industry real opportunities to participate in this field, which is so important for the future,” concludes Mikael.