Processer för DiAlkoholCellulosa PROduktion / PROcesses for DiAlcohol Cellulose PROduction

The purpose of the project is to study processes needed to complete the 2-step reaction process of modifying kraft pulp into thermoplastic dialcohol cellulose fibres (DAC) and to improve the after-following melt processing methodologies. The modification process for DAC have been studied in a previous project (Treesearch post doc “Scale-up of sustainable production of dialdehyde cellulose
and dialcohol”), but the processes of handling side streams, separating any dissolved material from the reaction chemicals and the process of efficiently removing water from the modified fibres for further processing, needs to be improved. Hence, the aim for the project is to, in an innovative way, improve the separation processes for recovering the expensive reagents used in the conversion process and to recover valuable co-products from the process, including the final dewatering step to reduce the energy requirement for the DAC drying process before production of pellets by melt processing.