Functional cellulose fibers

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The biggest issue facing our planet is climate change, caused mainly by CO2 emissions generated by combustion of fossil fuels by industry, automobiles and heating of buildings. To mitigate climate change, we should make extensive efforts to find economically sustainable solutions for the use of wood. At present the large scale uses of wood are: building materials, paper and textile. This proposal deals with a new way of making functional cellulose fibers, which can be made into filaments, smart textiles, high value cellulose biomaterials, such as superhydrophobic fibers and fibers of high tenacity, as well as high value dyed fibers. The long term vision is to have a sustainable cellulose bioproducts industry in Canada, thus increasing considerably the use of wood. Presently many pulp and paper mills in Canada are idle and could be readily converted to mills producing functional cellulose fibers, provided we can do so in a sustainable and economically viable way. We will provide the knowledge to produce functional cellulose fibers by covalently linking interesting molecules to carboxylated cellulose fibers during the production process, such as hydrophobic molecules, dyes, crosslinkers to increase strength and reduce swelling. Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic fibers (e.g. for cleaning up oil spills) will also be produced. Canada with its large supply of wood should become a world leader in producing bioproducts from wood. The expected outcomes are the production of smart cellulose fibers, hydrophobic and superhydrophobic filaments, smart textiles, and textiles that do not require further dyeing, all made from kraft fibers, produced by Canadian kraft mills. The novel fibers will be easy to modify, thus extending their range of potential applications. The strengthening of the Canadian forest industry will benefit Canada, create jobs and contribute greatly to the gradual conversion of a fossil fuel based economy to a true bio-economy.