PET coating from nano-cellulose extracted from kraft pulp

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) can be extracted from kraft pulp. These crystals can then be used as bio-coatings for packaging applications. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden explored a fast, low-toxicity, sustainable and low-cost extraction of CNCs by using ammonium persulfate as oxidizer.
They found that kraft CNC double coating managed to block oxygen almost 10 times better than bare film. Furthermore, it does not decrease visibility of the product inside packaging, when it was tested as packaging for breadsticks and readability of small print for as small as font 6. In the far future, bio-coatings can also be applied directly on paper, to make a 100% biodegradable packaging.
Click here for a thesis about the research (2.8 MB).

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