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Towards the scalable isolation of cellulose nanocrystals from tunicates

Matthew J. Dunlop, Craig Clemons, Richard Reiner, Ronald Sabo, Umesh P. Agarwal, Rabin Bissessur, Helia Sojoudiasli, Pierre Carreau, Bishnu Acharya

Article (2020)

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Abstract

In order for sustainable nanomaterials such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) to be utilized in industrial applications, a large-scale production capacity for CNCs must exist. Currently the only CNCs available commercially in kilogram scale are obtained from wood pulp (W-CNCs). Scaling the production capacity of W-CNCs isolation has led to their use in broader applications and captured the interest of researchers, industries and governments alike. Another source of CNCs with potential for commercial scale production are tunicates, a species of marine animal. Tunicate derived CNCs (T-CNCs) are a high aspect ratio CNC, which can complement commercially available W-CNCs in the growing global CNC market. Herein we report the isolation and characterization of T-CNCs from the tunicate Styela clava, an invasive species currently causing significant harm to local aquaculture communities. The reported procedure utilizes scalable CNC processing techniques and is based on our experiences from laboratory scale T-CNC isolation and pilot scale W-CNC isolation. To our best knowledge, this study represents the largest scale where T-CNCs have been isolated from any tunicate species, under any reaction conditions. Demonstrating a significant step towards commercial scale isolation of T-CNCs, and offering a potential solution to the numerous challenges which invasive tunicates pose to global aquaculture communities.

Uncontrolled Keywords

Characterization and analytical techniques, Chemical engineering, Synthesis and processing

Additional Information: Supplementary information is available for this paper at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76144-9.
Subjects: 1800 Chemical engineering > 1800 Chemical engineering
1800 Chemical engineering > 1802 Biochemical engineering
1800 Chemical engineering > 1806 Separation processes
Department: Department of Chemical Engineering
Research Center: CREPEC - Center for Applied Research on Polymers and Composites
Funders: Department of Fisheries and Oceans - Atlantic Fisheries Fund, Prince Edward Aqua Farms Inc.
Grant number: AFF-PEI-34
PolyPublie URL: https://publications.polymtl.ca/9291/
Journal Title: Scientific Reports (vol. 10)
Publisher: Springer Nature
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76144-9
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76144-9
Date Deposited: 01 Mar 2023 14:08
Last Modified: 29 May 2023 12:11
Cite in APA 7: Dunlop, M. J., Clemons, C., Reiner, R., Sabo, R., Agarwal, U. P., Bissessur, R., Sojoudiasli, H., Carreau, P., & Acharya, B. (2020). Towards the scalable isolation of cellulose nanocrystals from tunicates. Scientific Reports, 10, 19090 (13 pages). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76144-9

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