Cellulose Nanocrystals to Sustainable Emulsifiers and Hydrogels

Date:April 18, 2019

Country: Canada

Application

• This project develops cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) for use as emulsifiers, rheological modifiers, and reinforcing agents in food, health, energy, and water applications. It also explores their potential in tissue scaffolds, hydrogels, adhesives, and nanomaterial encapsulation.

Description

Emily D. Cranston's research focuses on transforming cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) into sustainable, high-performance materials through surface engineering. By tailoring the surface chemistry of CNCs, she develops biocompatible products with applications in food, health, energy, and water. This includes emulsifiers, hydrogels, adhesives, and tissue scaffolds. Her work bridges scientific research and the commercialization of eco-friendly technologies.

Pathway Description:

The process in this project involves tailoring the surface chemistry of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) to improve their interactions, stability, and compatibility with various materials. CNCs are developed into hybrid nanocellulose materials by adjusting their composition. Chemical crosslinking is used to create networked CNC structures for applications like tissue scaffolds. This surface engineering enables the production of sustainable, high-performance products in diverse fields such as food, health, and energy.