Nanocellulose compositions and processes to produce same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190800-A1
Application number	US-201615353306-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 16, 2016
Priority date	Jun 23, 2014
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A composition comprising nanocellulose is disclosed, wherein the nanocellulose contains very low or essentially no sulfur content. The nanocellulose may be in the form of cellulose nanocrystals, cellulose nanofibrils, or both. The nanocellulose is characterized by a crystallinity of at least 80%, an onset of thermal decomposition of 300° F. or higher, and a low light transmittance over the range 400-700 nm. Other variations provide a composition comprising lignin-coated hydrophobic nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose contains very low or essentially no sulfur content. Some variations provide a composition comprising nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose contains about 0.1 wt % equivalent sulfur content, or less, as SO 4 groups chemically or physically bound to the nanocellulose. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose contains essentially no hydrogen atoms (apart from hydrogen structurally contained in nanocellulose itself) bound to the nanocellulose. Various compositions, materials, and products may incorporate the nanocellulose compositions disclosed herein.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A composition comprising hydrophobic nanocellulose, wherein said nanocellulose contains about 0.5 wt % sulfur content or less.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said nanocellulose contains about 0.1 wt % sulfur content or less.

3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said nanocellulose contains about 0.5 wt % sodium content or less.

4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said nanocellulose is in the form of cellulose nanocrystals and/or cellulose nanofibrils.

5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said hydrophobic nanocellulose comprises lignin-coated nanocellulose.

6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said nanocellulose is characterized by a crystallinity of at least 80%.

7 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said nanocellulose is characterized by an onset of thermal decomposition of about 300° F. or higher.

8 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said nanocellulose is characterized by a transmittance of less than about 20% at a wavelength of 400 nm.

9 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein said nanocellulose is characterized by a transmittance of less than about 30% at a wavelength of 700 nm.

10 . A product comprising the nanocellulose composition of claim 1 , wherein said product optionally further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a carbon fiber, graphene, a glass, a solvent, a fluid, a substrate, and combinations thereof.

11 . A composition comprising lignin-coated nanocellulose, wherein said nanocellulose contains about 0.5 wt % sulfur content or less.

12 . The composition of claim 11 , wherein said nanocellulose contains about 0.1 wt % sulfur content or less.

13 . The composition of claim 11 , wherein said nanocellulose contains about 0.5 wt % sodium content or less.

14 . The composition of claim 11 , wherein said nanocellulose is in the form of cellulose nanocrystals and/or cellulose nanofibrils.

15 . The composition of claim 11 , wherein said nanocellulose is hydrophobic.

16 . The composition of claim 11 , wherein said nanocellulose is characterized by a crystallinity of at least 80%.

17 . The composition of claim 11 , wherein said nanocellulose is characterized by an onset of thermal decomposition of about 300° F. or higher.

18 . The composition of claim 11 , wherein said nanocellulose is characterized by a transmittance of less than about 20% at a wavelength of 400 nm.

19 . The composition of claim 11 , wherein said nanocellulose is characterized by a transmittance of less than about 30% at a wavelength of 700 nm.

20 . A product comprising the nanocellulose composition of claim 11 , wherein said product optionally further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a carbon fiber, graphene, a glass, a solvent, a fluid, a substrate, and combinations thereof.

Assignees

• Api Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Retsina Theodora
• Nelson Kimberly

Classifications

• C08B15/04

  Carboxycellulose, e.g. prepared by oxidation with nitrogen dioxide · CPC title

• C08J7/12

  Chemical modification · CPC title

• C08B15/00 Primary

  Preparation of other cellulose derivatives or modified cellulose {, e.g. complexes} · CPC title

• C08B15/08

  Fractionation of cellulose, e.g. separation of cellulose crystallites · CPC title

• C08K9/00

  Use of pretreated ingredients · CPC title