First Nanollose microbial cellulose sent to Birla
Australian research and development company Nanollose, which investigates plant-free cellulose technologies, recently shipped its first batch of refined microbial cellulose (MC) feedstock to the pilot facilities of its Mumbai-based partner, Birla Cellulose, a maker of cellulosic fibre.
Further processing and testing will take place in India, Nanollose said in a press release, prior to the MC being blended with other cellulosic feedstock and spun into tree-free lyocell fibre.
Nanollose specialises in fermenting liquid organic waste from the food and beverage industries, which it then uses to produce its tree-free lyocell and viscose.
According to the release, the intention behind the two companies’ collaboration is to produce pilot scale quantities of different lyocell fibres, with increasing percentages of MC blended with other cellulosic materials such as wood pulp. By expanding its offering across a range of blended and 100% tree-free fibres in this way, Nanollose hopes to appeal to different price points.
This first pilot fibre spin with Birla will allow for the MC to be refined to the standard required for commercial production.
“It’s an exciting time as we eagerly await our first opportunity to access sufficient quality and quantity of fibre to provide samples to potential partners,” commented Nanollose executive chairman, Dr Wayne Best.
Image: Nanollose.
