Industry: Chemical energy Region: Germany Transaction price: US$ 1 million Transaction method: equity investment
Project introduction:
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are a kind of natural polymers with wide application prospects. This updated technology in Germany allows cellulose nanocrystals to be separated from lignocellulosic materials through a simple one-step reaction under mild reaction conditions. Using a 50-liter storage tank for production, the cost is estimated to be about 10% of the actual market price of CNC with the same quality.
Industry challenge
Despite its potential, the use of CNC is limited, because today's manufacturing technology is either expensive or low/insufficient. CNCs are mainly extracted from cellulose pulp by acid hydrolysis. In the process of acid hydrolysis, the reaction conditions are harsh and the quality of CNCs produced is low. Another method to extract CNCs is to use TEMPO oxidant for oxidative degradation, which is much more expensive. In this case, the hydroxyl group of amorphous cellulose is oxidized, resulting in the destruction of amorphous cellulose while maintaining CNCs. The cost-effective and simple method of separating CNCs from cellulose can make a valuable raw material available for many industrial applications.
Innovative solutions
Scientists from a German university have successfully developed a simple and economical method to extract CNCs from lignocellulose-containing matrix. The reaction produces about 30% of the initial CNCs.
When pulp wood or flax fiber is used, the mass is about 40%, and when microcrystalline cellulose is used, the mass is 40%. In this process, periodate is used to degrade amorphous nanocellulose. A simple one-step reaction under mild reaction conditions can obtain a robust separation method without undesirable side reactions or CNC degradation. It produces uniform CNCs, which can be extracted from the reaction solution by ultrasonic wave and filtration or centrifugation.
Another advantage of this method is that the reaction solution can be regenerated and reused without losing the separation efficiency. The combination of simplicity and the possibility of regenerating the reaction solution greatly reduces the production cost of CNC.
This technology has successfully proved the efficiency of reaction and recovery in laboratory scale and large scale.
superiority
● Simple one-step reaction
● Crystalline nanocellulose has no side reaction or degradation.
● High quality and uniform CNC
A high yield of up to 40% by weight is obtained from the starting materials.
● The reaction solution can be recycled.
● The estimated production cost is only 10% of the actual market price.
Cooperation mode:
This technology provides patent licensing cooperation.