The Ultrasonic Drying of Cellulose Nanocrystals

 


Our changing world is sparking interest in bio-based materials and energy-efficient technologies. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are part of this movement. They are derived from renewable resources and have potential uses for composites, packaging and even in biomedical materials. The production of CNCs is involved. It’s major challenge is the energy used during the drying process. This requires the removal of large amounts of water from low concentration suspensions.

A team of scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with Purdue University have created a multi-frequency drying technology. Using ultrasonics, the method speeds up the drying process and reduces the amount of energy used.

The study was published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts. The research compared the energy efficiency, product quality and drying kinetics of the different drying methods. The ultrasonic process showed an amazing 50% reduction in drying time, with little change in particle size.

The ultrasonic drying method showed more stability in aqueous solutions. They have zeta potentials ranging from -35 to -65 mV. This is a critical factor for the colloid stability of CNCs.

The specific energy consumption was significantly lower than previous methods, and the potential carbon dioxide emissions could reach ZERO if renewable energy is used!

The team concluded that ultrasonic drying of CNCs is a sustainable solution for future production. 

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