S-CNF in powder form
Yokogawa Bio Frontier Inc., a subsidiary of Yokogawa Electric Corporation, says it is commencing sales of 100% plant-derived sulfated cellulose nanofiber (S-CNFTM). The company is initially providing samples to prospective customers and will subsequently scale up production in preparation for the commercial sale of this versatile, plant-derived S-CNF material to customers mainly in the chemical and materials industries.
Cellulose nanofiber is a fibrous biomass material that is derived from cellulose, an important structural component of plants. It is produced by extracting the cellulose from materials such as wood pulp and defibrating it to form very fine nanosized fibers. Companies in the materials industry have shown interest in cellulose nanofiber as a strong and lightweight material that is resistant to deformation when exposed to heat and provides a highly effective barrier against oxygen and other gases, according to the company. Its production and disposal reportedly have a low environmental impact.
In addition to having the same characteristics as standard cellulose nanofiber, S-CNF in a gel form can be dried to produce a powdered substance that has approximately 1/100th the volume and weight of the gel, according to Yokogawa Bio Frontier. This powder reportedly costs significantly less to transport and store and its physical properties can be restored by blending it with water. By adjusting the blending ratio, the physical properties of the cellulose nanofiber can be altered to suit specific applications. Yokogawa Bio Frontier says the process it employs to break down fibers and produce S-CNF consumes less energy than other cellulose nanofiber production processes and is expected to reduce production costs.
Moving forward, Yokogawa Bio Frontier says it will work toward the commercial production of S-CNF and develop the business through the sale of this product and the licensing of its commercial production process principally to companies in the chemical and materials industries. The company reportedly will also look into joint research and development activities with customers using S-CNF.
For more information, visit: www.yokogawa.com/jp-ybf/
