Applications of highly-reactive chemical celluloses and their derivatives with novel properties and unique functionalities

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In recent years, several major drivers such as growing population, food and energy demands, depletion of natural resources, increasing environmental pressures, and climate change concerns have accelerated the global transition from a pertroleum-based to a bio-based economy. Bio-economy is defined as the economic activities derived from renewable biological resources and their conversion into bio-based products. One of the key aspects of the emerging Bioeconomy is developing new, renewable and sustainable technologies, processes and products. Market surveys reveal that customers, and thus producers, prefer high-performance products that are biodegradable and sourced from low-cost renewable resources. These trends have opened new possibilities for the development of novel, high-value, cellulose-based biomaterials that could replace oil-based feedstock with renewable feedstocks. The long-term goal of my research program is to use a range of commercial processes to develop new materials from renewable sources, which can then be tested as possible replacements or improvements upon existing petroleum-based feedstocks. In the proposed research we will focus on: (i) Production of novel and highly reactive celluloses and cellulose derivatives from forest biomass with unique functionalities and (ii) Utilization of reactive celluloses to develop suitable methods (simple and inexpensive) for production of novel, high-value, cellulose-based biomaterials such as superabsorbent gels for hygienic products, transparent films for food packaging materials or functional biopolymer for composite materials. Our new process will present an exceptional opportunity to leverage established commercial processes to produce bio-based materials from forestry feedstocks. Such products may have commercial, industrial, and environmental benefits in existing commercial materials.