Novel Nanomaterials and Performance Industrial Products, 2020

 

You-Lo Hsieh, distinguished professor, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, UC Davis

The goal of this ongoing research is to develop efficient processes to isolate rice straw components and to convert them into new nanomaterials and advanced functional products and technologies.

Technology transfer

In 2020, work continued on the transfer of five specific rice straw technologies:

Ultra-light Amphiphilic Nanocellulose aerogels and foams (UC-2016-909-0)
https://techtransfer.universityofcalifornia.edu/NCD/27150.html

Green Multi-Functional Telomerization Agent for Tunable Hydrophobic Nanocellulose (UC-2017-364-0)
https://techtransfer.universityofcalifornia.edu/NCD/27619.html

Conductive and Elastic Nanocellulose Aerogels (UC-2018-809-0)
https://techtransfer.universityofcalifornia.edu/NCD/29536.html

Nanocellulose-Assisted Exfoliation of Graphite to Few Layer Graphene (UC-2019-302)
https://techtransfer.universityofcalifornia.edu/NCD/30089.html

Coaxial cellulose-based aerogel fibers (UC-2020-030-1)

Technology development and outreach

Rice straw nanocellulose aerogels represent the most developed, advanced materials from rice straw. Nanocellulose aerogels are super-absorbent of aqueous, as well as organic liquids. This amphiphilic attribute is unique and distinguishes rice straw nanocellulose aerogels from both carbon and silica aerogels. Work continued on expanding high-performance product development and technology transfer of rice straw nanotechnologies. A few highlights include:

A super-absorbent for personal care—Researchers developed and fabricated nanocellulose aerogel samples for a large global consumer products company, which is interested in replacing a synthetic polymer in a new product.

Ingestible absorbent for human digestion—A nutrition technology startup has expressed interest in ingestible nanocelluloses for food applications.

Nanocelluloses as elastomer reinforcement—Discussions continue with a global automobile supplier about reactive nanocelluloses that can strengthen synthetic polymers.

Potential food industry applications—The principal investigator is seeking technology development to commercialize hydrophobic nanocelluloses for moisture and oxygen barrier packaging for use with food and other products.

Partnership with the University of Maine—Collaborations with the Process Development Center at the University of Maine and the Forest Products Laboratory are in progress for critical process and product development.

Additional advancements

In spite of how the pandemic limited in-person activities by scientists working on this project, advancements on rice straw nanomaterials and product development have been made, including preliminary studies of food grade nanocelluloses, polymer nano-composites, and a hydrophobic coating for packaging materials.

One paper was published in a scientific journal, one was submitted for review, and two others are in preparation. The principal investigator and her students gave four oral presentations—all virtual because of the pandemic.