Cellulose micro‐ and nanofibrils (CMNF) manufacturing ‐ financial and risk assessment

Abstract

Conversion economics, risk, and financial analyses for an industrial facility manufacturing cellulose micro‐ and nanofibrils (CMNF) from wood pulp is presented. Process data is based on mass and energy balances from a pilot facility in the University of Maine. Here, CMNF is produced from untreated wood pulp by using disk refining, with an assumed production capacity of 50 t (dry metric ton equivalent) per day. Stand‐alone and co‐location manufacturing facilities were simulated and assessed. Minimum product selling prices (MPSP, estimated to achieve a 16% hurdle rate) for different scenarios ranged from USD 1893/t CMNF to USD 2440/t CMNF (dry equivalent). Pulp and energy consumption were identified as major cost drivers. Consequently, it was found that the use of alternative feedstock, in addition to co‐location configuration, can reduce MPSP by 37%. Since estimated MPSP of CMNF is lower than cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) – both estimated to achieve a 16% hurdle rate, we believe market adoption of CMNF in the near term is more promising, regardless of specific applications. This study provides state of the art business intelligence information on the conversion economics, risk, and financial analyses for CMNF manufacturing. Thus, the data represents valuable information to entrepreneurs, R&D scientists, and product developers who plan to adopt CMNF in their processes and products. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

All‐Natural, Degradable, Rolled‐Up Straws Based on Cellulose Micro‐ and Nano‐Hybrid Fibers

“…In lab scale, each straw may only consume ≈200 mg cellulose nanofibers and ≈200 mg cellulose microfibers. Based on this, for each hybrid straw, the raw material costs as low as ≈0.06 cents (calculated according to ≈$2.5 kg −1 for low‐cost commercial nanofibers and ≈$0.445 kg −1 for microfibers as reported based on energy and raw material cost [ 31 ] ). Further reduction of cost is expected when scaling up in industry with better energy use in system and using low‐cost raw materials, enabling the cost of cellulose straws competitive to or even lower than that of plastic straws (≈0.2 cents per plastic straw).…”

Measuring and Integrating Risk Management into Green Innovation Practices for Green Manufacturing under the Global Value Chain

“…Manage risk and cost-related risk as well as environmental, technical, and market risk [48][49][50] Environmental risk, technology risk, management risk, and market risk [51,52] Technology risk, market risk, transportation capacity, competition risk, and policy risk [53,54] Risk characteristics Technology risk, management risk, and marketing risk [55,56] Technology risk, manufacturing risk, market risk, management risk, and financial risk [57,58] Technology risk, market risk, cooperative risk, financial risk, and institutional risk [59,60] Risk processes Development risk, manufacturing risk, and marketing risk [61,62] Research risk, manufacturing risk, and market service risk [63] Development risk, manufacturing risk, and market risk [64] The classification of the risk management process by the International Standards Association, American Project Management Organization, Australian And New Zealand Standards, and American Sponsor Committee is basically the same, including environmental analysis, risk identification, risk assessment, risk response, and risk internal control [65][66][67][68]. For identifying green innovation risk, the flowchart method, fault tree method, and scenario analysis method are usually used.…”

“…The green innovation risk of the manufacturing industry has the following characteristics [48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64]. (i) Each stage of green innovation in the manufacturing industry faces various risks.…”

“…The risk of green innovation is defined as the possibility of the suspension, termination, or failure of green innovation activities due to the uncertainty of the external environment of green innovation and the lack of the strength of the enterprises implementing green innovation on the basis of R&D clean energy and development of energy-saving and emission reduction technologies, as well as the losses caused. R&D risks stem from changes in personnel, finance, technology, and green policies in the R&D process [51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60]. Manufacturing risk also involves personnel and financial risk, followed by production risk [55][56][57][58]61,62].…”

“…R&D risks stem from changes in personnel, finance, technology, and green policies in the R&D process [51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60]. Manufacturing risk also involves personnel and financial risk, followed by production risk [55][56][57][58]61,62]. Marketing risk also involves human and financial risk and is affected by markets and low-carbon policies [55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62].…”