Innovation Anthology #411:
Many of the products we use today are made from cellulose, including paper, film, and some coatings.
Now scientists at Alberta Innovates Technology Futures are setting up a pilot plant to produce the next step in cellulose technology, and that’s nano crystalline cellulose.
Dr. Robert Jost says the project will look at how best to scale up production.
DR. ROBERT JOST: Nano crystalline cellulose is an interesting material because it is unique in that it’s a particle of cellulose. It has properties that the larger cellulose fibre doesn’t have, It has properties that a dissolved cellulose derivative, or modified cellulose polymer doesn’t have as well. So for example, nano crystalline cellulose being a particle can form stable suspensions in water, and it can also form liquid crystalline suspensions or show liquid crystalline behavior, And these are all properties that you don’t see with a cellulose fibre or a cellulose derivative that are commercially available today.
According to Dr. Robert Jost nano crystalline cellulose can be produced from agricultural leftovers like straw from flax and hemp, and it can be shipped in a variety of forms such as a paste, a film or a powder.
Thanks today to Alberta Innovates Technology Futures
FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY
I’M CHERYL CROUCHER
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Alberta Innovates Technology Futures
Alberta Innovates launched its consolidation on November 1, 2016
780-450-5111
albertatechfutures.ca
250 Karl Clark Road,
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
T6N 1E4
Program Date: 2011-07-26