1. Nanocellulose - Technology & Business Trends
John Cowie PhD
January 14, 2015
nanoC
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2. Nanocellulose - What is it?
From wood
~ 4 nm diameter, ~ 150 nm long
Aspect ratio (l/d) about 35
Ratio can be as high as 1000
Theoretically 100% crystalline
As low as 70%
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3. Three Main Types 1. Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNF)
Manufactured through mechanical and chem/bio- mechanical means
2. Cellulose NanoCrystals (CNC)
Manufactured by acid hydrolysis of pulp
3. Cellulose Filaments (CF)
Manufactured by mechanically peeling the cellulose strands
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4. Potential Uses Improved paper and packaging products
Reinforced polymers
Advanced composite materials
Hydro-fracking and oil drilling fluids
High-strength spun fibers and textiles
Films for barrier and other functions
Coatings, paints, lacquers and adhesives
Switchable optical devices
Pharmaceutical and drug delivery
Bone replacement and teeth repair
Improved building products
Additives for foods, cosmetics
Aerospace and transportation
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5. Production Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNF) -
Mechanical and chem/bio-mechanical means
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6. Production Cellulose NanoCrystals (CNC) 1. Milling 2. Acid Hydrolysis
3. Clarification
4. Acid removal
5. Concentration
6. Drying
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7. Production Cellulose Filaments (CF)
Manufactured by mechanically peeling the cellulose strands
Length: 10, ,000 nm
Diameter: nm
Adpect ratio (L/D):
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8. Comparison of Select Properties
Material
Density
(g/cm3)
Tensile
Strength
(MPa)
Modulus of
Elasticity
(GPa)
Elongation to
Fracture
(%)
Cellulose
Nanocrystals CNC
1.5
10,000
150
6.7
Carbon Nanotube CNT
1.2
30,000
1054 6
Carbon
1.7
4,000
235
1.6
Kevlar
1.4
2,800
183 4
316 Stainless Steel
8.0
580
290 50
Bullet Point
Sub Bullet
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9. Comparative Toxicity Lethal Concentration LC50 test
Species used for toxicity testing:
Daphnia magna
Cerio-daphnia dubia
Acute lethal toxicity (mg/L)
Very toxic <0.1
Toxic
Moderately toxic 1-10
Slightly toxic
Practically nontoxic >100
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10. CMC (Carbo methyl cellulose) MCC (microcrystallince cellulose)
Comparative Toxicity
Material
Toxicity, 48 hour LC50*, mg/L
Relative
Toxicity
Daphnia
Ceriodaphnia
CNC (60 – 100 nm)
> 1,000 (3,200)
Nontoxic
CMC (Carbo methyl cellulose)
> 10,000
MCC (microcrystallince cellulose)
> 1,000
TiO2 (30 nm)
5.5 -
Moderately toxic
TiO2 (100 – 500 nm)
> 500
Fullerine (10 – 20 nm)
0.5
Toxic
Fullerine ( nm)
7.9
NaCl
~ 5,500
~ 1,200
* LC50 Toxicity – the concentration of a substance that is lethal to 50% of the organisms exposed to it.
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11. Cost Comparison Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNF)
Without depreciation of equipment : ~ $3.40 to 5.00/kg
With Depreciation: ~ $17.00/kg
Cellulose Nano Crystals (CNC)
Without depreciation of equipment : ~ $3.20 to 5.00/kg
With Depreciation: ~ $16.00/kg
Cellulose Filaments (CF)
Not determined
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12. Material of the Future Nanomaterials Cost versus Performance Cost
Wood flour
$ $0.10/lb
Cellulose
Nano Crystals
Organoclays
~ $4.00/lb
Carbon Nanotubes
Up to $200,000/lb
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13. Potential Market Size
Bullet Point
Sub Bullet
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14. Nanocellulose - The Producers
Bullet Point
Sub Bullet
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15. Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI
CNC Pilot Plant –
Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI
FPL opened a new U.S/ Forest Service-funded $1.7 million nanocellulose pilot plant in 2012
Producing about 30 kg of cellulose nano-crystals (CNC) per week
Producing 5 kg of cellulose nano-fibrils (CNF) per week
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16. Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNFs) Pilot Plant – University of Maine
Cellulose Nanofiber Production and Functionalization Laboratory
Funded by a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service
The only one of its kind in the nation
University Consortium:
University of Maine
Georgia Institute of Technology
North Carolina State University
Oregon State University
Pennsylvania State University
Purdue University
University of Tennessee
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17. Borregaard -
Norway
Borregaard ChemCell offer speciality cellulose for the production of Exilva ® or microcrystalline cellulose
2016: new production Plant with capacity of 1000 tonnes per year with a potential for expansion
Food additives (SenseFi ®)
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18. Innventia - Stockholm Sweden
World's First Pilot Plant for Production of Nanocellulose Inaugurated in 2011
Produce nanocellulose on a large scale
Important step towards commercial applications
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19. CelluForce – Windsor, Quebec, Canada
Partnership between FPInnovations and Domtar
One ton per day CNC production
$33.4 million of government funding
Production commenced in 2012
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20. UPM Biofibrils (CNFs) Helsinki, Finland
UPM has developed a product family of fibrillated cellulose materials for various industrial applications
Industrial viscosity modifiers of water-based systems:
Paints, coatings, oil drilling fluids, concrete and grouts
Reinforcement additive in composites:
Paper and packaging products
Synthetic or bio-based
Looking for partnerships and customers, especially in the composite field
Industrial scale samples available
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21. Cellulose Nanomaterials in Japan
NCF (Nanocellulose Forum)
A Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Consortium
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22. Performance Biofilaments
Performance BioFilaments is a joint venture between Mercer International and Resolute Forest Products
Five ton/day cellulose filament demonstration plant started-up in Quebec in 2014
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23. American Process Inc.
American Process and Futuris Automotive are developing ultra-strong, lightweight automotive structural components reinforced with nanocellulose
Substitute for expensive light-weight carbon fiber composites
Futuris Automotive currently produces the interior components for Tesla
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24. john.cowie@nanoC.technology
John G Cowie PhD
Principal Consultant
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