Nanocellulose Life Cycle Assessment

Abstract

Nanocellulose is a nascent and promising material with many exceptional properties and a broad spectrum of potential applications. Because of the unique and functional materials that can be created using nanocellulose, pilot-scale development for commercialization has begun. Thus a thorough understanding of its environmental impact, covering the whole life cycle of nanocellulose, becomes the foundation for its long-term sustainable success. In this current study, four comparable lab scale nanocellulose fabrication routes were evaluated through a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) adopting the Eco-Indicator 99 method. The results indicated that, for the chemical–mechanical fabrication routes, the majority of the environmental impact of nanocellulose fabrication is dependent upon both the chemical modification and mechanical treatment route chosen. For sonication, the mechanical treatment overshadows that from the chemical modifications. Adapting the best practice based on unit mass production was 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) oxidation followed by homogenization, as TEMPO oxidation resulted in a lower impact than carboxymethylation. Even though the fabrication process of nanocellulose presents a large environmental footprint markup relative to its raw material extraction process (kraft pulping), it still exhibits prominent environmental advantages over other nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes.

Cellulose Nanomaterials in Water Treatment Technologies

“…41 Though limited, current data suggest that CNs exhibit very good biocompatibility and low toxicity. 41,42 There are significant differences between CNs and CNTs that limit its complete substitution. Unlike CNTs, unmodified CNs are not electrically conductive nor photocatalytic.…”

Micro/Nano-fibrillated Cellulose from Cotton Linters as Strength Additive in Unbleached Kraft Paper: Experimental, Semi-empirical, and Mechanistic Studies

“…The interest in these materials is explained by their advantageous basic properties, such as renewability, high mechanical strength, large specific surface area, high aspect ratios, barrier properties, optical behavior, biodegradability, and biocompatibility (Eichhorn et al 2009). A majority of the environmental impact of nanocellulose fabrication depends on both the chemical modification and mechanical treatment route chosen (Li et al 2013). Use of cotton linters reduces the entire pulping process, as required in wood processing, because the raw material contains more than 90% cellulose.…”

Sustainable Design for the Direct Fabrication and Highly Versatile Functionalization of Nanocelluloses

“…[17] Life cycle analyses have shown that all these fabrication processes exhibit prominent environmental advantages over other nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes. [18,19] Among the fabrication processes, the enzymatic pretreatment route and mechanical agitation exhibit the lowest environmental impact. However, enzyme stability and the energy required for mechanical agitation are important cost factors.…”