Evaluating ultra-fine friction grinding for the continuous production of nanofibrillated cellulose

Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) has diverse applications, but economical large-scale production with minimized ecological footprint remains challenging. A Masuko Supermasscolloider was modified for continuous processing using a pump-controlled circulating system, an in-line viscosimeter, and power c...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Huy Vu Duc Nguyen, Angus C.L.A. Crampton, Daniel F. Schmidt, Tim Huber
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893925001768
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849744274655019008
author Huy Vu Duc Nguyen
Angus C.L.A. Crampton
Daniel F. Schmidt
Tim Huber
author_facet Huy Vu Duc Nguyen
Angus C.L.A. Crampton
Daniel F. Schmidt
Tim Huber
author_sort Huy Vu Duc Nguyen
collection DOAJ
description Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) has diverse applications, but economical large-scale production with minimized ecological footprint remains challenging. A Masuko Supermasscolloider was modified for continuous processing using a pump-controlled circulating system, an in-line viscosimeter, and power consumption meters. Utilizing the upgraded system, we investigated NFC production from Miscanthus biomass under various conditions: different initial cellulose concentrations (1, 1.5, and 2 wt%), process volumes (15 and 25 L) and different grinding times (15–120 min, 15 min intervals). Particle size analysis showed equivalent hydrodynamic diameters of 200–300 nm regardless of processing conditions. Notably, our approach demonstrated 70 % reduction in specific energy consumption by simultaneously increasing process volume from 15 L to 25 L and initial cellulose concentration from 1 wt% to 2 wt%. Additionally, NFC produced at different grinding times was used to prepare carboxymethyl cellulose nanocomposites. Tensile testing demonstrated the same level of mechanical reinforcement regardless of NFC grinding time, highlighting a clear opportunity to reduce the footprint of NFC production while maintaining performance.
format Article
id doaj-art-734e7e7e321448d38852379d2ad759f0
institution DOAJ
issn 2666-8939
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
spelling doaj-art-734e7e7e321448d38852379d2ad759f02025-08-20T03:20:58ZengElsevierCarbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications2666-89392025-06-011010083810.1016/j.carpta.2025.100838Evaluating ultra-fine friction grinding for the continuous production of nanofibrillated celluloseHuy Vu Duc Nguyen0Angus C.L.A. Crampton1Daniel F. Schmidt2Tim Huber3Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 5, Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, LuxembourgLuxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 5, Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, LuxembourgLuxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 5, Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, LuxembourgCorresponding author.; Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 5, Avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, LuxembourgNanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) has diverse applications, but economical large-scale production with minimized ecological footprint remains challenging. A Masuko Supermasscolloider was modified for continuous processing using a pump-controlled circulating system, an in-line viscosimeter, and power consumption meters. Utilizing the upgraded system, we investigated NFC production from Miscanthus biomass under various conditions: different initial cellulose concentrations (1, 1.5, and 2 wt%), process volumes (15 and 25 L) and different grinding times (15–120 min, 15 min intervals). Particle size analysis showed equivalent hydrodynamic diameters of 200–300 nm regardless of processing conditions. Notably, our approach demonstrated 70 % reduction in specific energy consumption by simultaneously increasing process volume from 15 L to 25 L and initial cellulose concentration from 1 wt% to 2 wt%. Additionally, NFC produced at different grinding times was used to prepare carboxymethyl cellulose nanocomposites. Tensile testing demonstrated the same level of mechanical reinforcement regardless of NFC grinding time, highlighting a clear opportunity to reduce the footprint of NFC production while maintaining performance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893925001768Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC)Continuous productionSize distributionEnergy consumption
spellingShingle Huy Vu Duc Nguyen
Angus C.L.A. Crampton
Daniel F. Schmidt
Tim Huber
Evaluating ultra-fine friction grinding for the continuous production of nanofibrillated cellulose
Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC)
Continuous production
Size distribution
Energy consumption
title Evaluating ultra-fine friction grinding for the continuous production of nanofibrillated cellulose
title_full Evaluating ultra-fine friction grinding for the continuous production of nanofibrillated cellulose
title_fullStr Evaluating ultra-fine friction grinding for the continuous production of nanofibrillated cellulose
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating ultra-fine friction grinding for the continuous production of nanofibrillated cellulose
title_short Evaluating ultra-fine friction grinding for the continuous production of nanofibrillated cellulose
title_sort evaluating ultra fine friction grinding for the continuous production of nanofibrillated cellulose
topic Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC)
Continuous production
Size distribution
Energy consumption
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893925001768
work_keys_str_mv AT huyvuducnguyen evaluatingultrafinefrictiongrindingforthecontinuousproductionofnanofibrillatedcellulose
AT angusclacrampton evaluatingultrafinefrictiongrindingforthecontinuousproductionofnanofibrillatedcellulose
AT danielfschmidt evaluatingultrafinefrictiongrindingforthecontinuousproductionofnanofibrillatedcellulose
AT timhuber evaluatingultrafinefrictiongrindingforthecontinuousproductionofnanofibrillatedcellulose