Fpinnovations

Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada

Celluforce Inc.

Eco-Tec Limited

Other

Parinaz Akhlaghi, Seyedeh

Tam, Kam Chiu

Shi, Zengqian

Wu, Xinyun

Mohammed, Nishil

Berry, Richard

Grishkewich, Nathan

Richard M. Berry

Michael Paleologou

Richard M Berry

Jean Bouchard

Stephanie Beck

Rokhsareh Thompson

Kam Chiu Tam

Joseph Donat Louis Godbout

Craig J Brown

Michael A Sheedy

Yujun Sun

Joseph Donat Godbout

Naceur Jemaa

James Theodore Wearing

Thomas Hu

Yaolin Zhang

Xiang-Ming Wang

Raed Hashaikeh

Aiping Yu

Bruce I Fleming

Philippe Bourassa

Norman Liebergott

Jian Li

Zhi-Hua Jiang

George Sacciadis

Xuejun Zou

Alain Granger

Myriam Methot

Sassan Hojabr

Zengqian Shi

Xinyun Wu

Seyedeh Parinaz Akhlaghi

Nishil Mohammed

Xiuyun Wu

Corinne Elizabeth Luthe

Nathan Grishkewich

Theodore Radiotis

Xuequan Tan

Stephan Raymond

The disclosure provides a nanodispersion of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in monoethylene glycol (MEG) as well as a method for dispersing CNCs in MEG and a process for preparing a polymer composites comprising a CNC nanodispersion in MEG comprising copolymerizing said nanodispersion of CNCs and at least one monomer polymerizable with said MEG and/or CNCs.

Dispersion of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in monoethylene glycol and process of preparing same

The disclosure provides redispersible CNC. The CNC disclosed herein is redispersible in non-polar and polar organic solvents as well as polar and non-polar polymers such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The disclosure surprisingly also provides redispersible CNC bearing improved redispersion in aqueous systems and most particularly in high ionic strength aqueous systems which usually require significant mixing energy to achieve dispersion.

Preparation of solvent and polymer redispersible formulations of dried cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)

The present disclosure provides a core-shell nanocomposite material comprising an intrinsically conductive polymer (ICP) and surface-modified cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as well as synthesis for preparing same and its use thereof in various applications.

Conductive cellulose nanocrystals, method of producing same and uses thereof

The present disclosure relates to a process for preparing coated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and relates as well to coated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) obtainable by the process described herein. These new CNC hybrid nanomaterials are expected to be useful, for example, for the conjugation and electrostatic complexation with various functional moieties such as free metal ions, carboxylic acids, and epoxy and aldehyde derivatives. The disclosure further relates to a method to fabricate N-doped carbon nanomaterial from the coated CNCs.

Processes for preparing amine-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals and nitrogen doped carbon nanofibers

The present disclosure relates to surface modified nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) prepared by chemical modification of NCC as well as its use thereof, including as carrier of particular chemical compounds. The surface of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) was modified with chitosan oligosaccharide (CS) by selectively oxidizing the primary alcohol moieties of NCC followed by coupling of the amino groups of CSto the oxidized NCC to provide the desired material (NCC-CS).

Surface modified nanocrystalline cellulose and uses thereof

The present disclosure relates to the use of pristine and surface functionalized cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) incorporated hydrogel beads as adsorbent materials for water treatment applications. Here the hydrogel beads were prepared by ionic crosslinking of biopolymer sodium alginate using calcium chloride.

Pristine and surface functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) incorporated hydrogel beads and uses thereof

A process for preparing polyurethane composites includes (i) providing a dispersion of nanocrystalline cellulose in (a) one or more polyols, (b) one or more isocyanates, or (c) one or more polyols and one or more isocyanate, mixed together; wherein the amount of water in the nanocrystalline cellulose is less than about 1% w/w; (ii) mixing the dispersion of (i)(a) with an isocyanate or (i)(b) with a polyol and a catalyst to allow polymerization; or mixing the dispersion of (i)(c) and a catalyst to allow polymerization; and (iii) isolating the polyurethane composite. A method for improving properties of polyurethanes includes dispersing nanocrystalline cellulose into one or both parts of a two part polyol/isocyanate precursors prior to allowing polymerization of the precursors, wherein the amount of water in the nanocrystalline cellulose is less than about 1% w/w; mixing the dispersion with a catalyst; and polymerizing the precursors to provide the polyurethane.

Polyurethane composites comprising nanocrystalline cellulose and method for improving properties of polyurethanes thereof

A new method to control the iridescence color of solid nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) films by ultrasound and high-shear (mechanical) energy input to the NCC suspension prior to film formation is provided. As the energy input to the NCC suspension increases, the resulting film color shifts from the ultraviolet region towards the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum; this wavelength shift lies in the opposite direction to that caused by the addition of electrolytes to NCC suspensions prior to film formation. No additives are required to achieve the changes in color; color changes can also be effected by mixing two suspensions exposed to different levels of sonication.

Control of nanocrystalline cellulose film iridescence wavelength

Flexible nanocrystalline cellulose films (NCC) include a polymer while retaining the property of tunable color. Polymers, for example PVOH and SB-latex, are effective in increasing the flexibility of the NCC films. The NCC film made with PVOH retains the iridescence better than that made with SB-latex; however, the NCC film made with SB-latex has a better tensile strength. In addition, the NCC film made with PVOH was found to disperse easily in water while the NCC film made with SB latex does not disperse in water (it is strongly water resistant). The color of NCC film made with PVOH and SB-latex can still be tuned with techniques that provide for tuning.

Flexible, iridescent nanocrystalline cellulose film, and method for preparation

A new method to control the dispersibility of dried nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) by controlling solution pH and ionic strength is provided; when stable, non-reswellable acid-form NCC (H-NCC) films are placed in concentrated sodium hydroxide solutions, they swell but do not disperse; while sodium-form NCC (Na-NCC) or other NCC films having neutral monovalent counterions readily disperse in pure water, Na-NCC films placed in hydrochloric acid and sodium chloride as well as sodium hydroxide solutions of sufficient ionic strength swell, but do not disperse; similar properties are observed for freeze-dried NCC products. The dispersibility of these NCC films is a function of the ionic strength and the identity of the electrolyte solutions to which they are exposed. NCC films are envisaged that have barrier properties in an electrolyte solution but that disintegrate or disperse when rinsed with pure water at the end of their useful lifespan.

Method to control the dispersibility and barrier properties of dried nanocrystalline cellulose in solutions of different pH and ionic strength

Dried forms of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) with controllable redispersibility in water are provided; lightweight and easily transportable dried acid-form nanocrystalline cellulose which can be resuspended for use in a desired application can be produced by maintaining the humidity content of the NCC within a specific, low, range; evaporated acid-form NCC suspensions with moisture contents below this range are non-dispersible and therefore can be subsequently fixed in permanently dried form; the second form is produced by exchanging the proton of the acid-form NCC for neutral monovalent counterions and freeze-drying the NCC to give a solid product which rapidly disperses when placed in water; properties similar to those of the original suspension are also obtained with a brief sonication treatment.

Redispersible dried nanocrystalline cellulose

Dried nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), in particular films of NCC, of controlled water dispersibility and a method to control the dispersibility of dried NCC by controlling electrolyte solution ionic strength and ion valency is described. Neutral M-NCC suspensions containing monovalent counterions (e.g., M=Na, K, NH, EtN) produced by neutralization of acid-form NCC (H-NCC) with the appropriate hydroxide, are readily dispersible in water when fully dried; this is in contrast to H-NCC. The dispersion of dried M-NCC in aqueous media is effectively prevented by a combination of (1) increased electrolyte concentration and ionic strength, and (2) higher valency of the cation component of the dissolved salt. Additionally, pre-treatment of dried M-NCC films with an electrolyte solution having a polyvalent cation, for example a divalent or trivalent cation is sufficient to prevent the subsequent dispersion of the M-NCC film in pure water.

Dried nanocrystalline cellulose of controllable dispersibility and method therefor

Impregnating or spraying softwood chips in a solution containing an appropriate concentration of alkaline earth metal ions selected from the group consisting of calcium ions, barium ions and strontium, preferably calcium ions, at room temperature before a reductive alkaline pulping process, for example kraft pulping, significantly increases pulp yield. Using an agent that complexes with the metal ions, such as hydroxyethylidene diphosphonic acid (HEDP) allows this benefit of metal ions to be achieved during the pulping process rather than in a separate impregnation step.

Increasing alkaline pulping yield for softwood with metal ions

Final chlorine dioxide bleaching of lignocellulosic materials is most effective at a near-neutral pH but present industrial practice typically targets a final pH of between 3.5 and 4.0 because of the difficulty in achieving and maintaining near-neutral pH cost effectively. The in situ formation of bicarbonate before the addition of chlorine dioxide provides a way of maintaining the required near-neutral pH. Near-neutral final chlorine dioxide bleaching also produces a bleached pulp that is in a state that responds more effectively to fluorescent whitening or optical brightening agents.

Near neutral chlorine dioxide bleaching of pulp

Growing community of inventors

Ile Perrot, Canada

Richard M Berry