PROCESSES FOR PRODUCING NANOCELLULOSE-LIGNIN COMPOSITE MATERIALS, AND COMPOSITIONS OBTAINED THEREFROM

摘要

This invention provides a process for producing a nanocellulose-lignin material, comprising: providing a starting material comprising lignin and discrete cellulose fiber fines, chemically and physically separate from the lignin; and mechanically refining the starting material to form a nanocellulose-lignin material comprising cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals chemically or physically associated with the lignin. In certain embodiments, the starting material contains about 60 wt % lignin and about 40 wt % cellulose fiber fines on a dry basis. The starting material may be obtained from an AVAP® process. The refining may utilize single disk refiners, double disk refiners, conical refiners, cylindrical refiners, beaters, grinders, homogenizers, microfluidizers, vortex mixers, rotor-stator mixers, and/or high-shear mixers, for example. A novel nanocellulose-lignin composite material is obtained.

主权项

1. A process for producing a nanocellulose-lignin material, said process comprising:
(a) providing a starting material comprising lignin and discrete cellulose fiber fines, wherein said lignin is chemically and physically separate from said cellulose fiber fines; (b) mechanically refining said starting material to form a nanocellulose-lignin material comprising cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals, wherein said cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals are chemically or physically associated with said lignin; and (c) recovering said nanocellulose-lignin material.