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Process stability optimization of the twin-screw extrusion adapted for concentrated cellulose fibrillation

  • Polymers & biopolymers
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Abstract

The twin-screw extrusion (TSE) process has recently been investigated for the production of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF). The main advantage of this process is the production of CNF at high solid content (around 20 wt% suspensions) and lower energy consumption. Typically, studies focus on the quality of the extruded material (i.e., CNF) by comparing different pretreatments, biomass sources or combinations of processes. Limited information is available on the TSE process itself and its stability. This work proposes to analyze some key parameters such as torque, in situ temperature and flow of extruded material. All together they reflect a certain stability of the TSE process. The process is considered stable when the torque and temperatures plateau and when the mass flow is continuous and constant. These parameters vary depending on the different pretreatments and the solid content of the cellulose suspensions introduced in the TSE. Morphologies of extruded CNF are characterized at different scales with optical microscopy, SEM-FEG and TEM images. A simplified quality index was calculated to compare extruded CNF. A high and fluctuating torque, rising temperatures and discontinuous mass flow were recorded for the enzymatically pretreated pulp and refined pulp with a long dwell time of the fibers in the extruder. On the contrary, a low and very stable torque, stabilized temperatures and continuous mass flow were reported for the pulp obtained after a combination of enzymatic hydrolysis and refining.

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Acknowledgements

This study is funded by Grenoble INP and Centre technique, du Papier (Grenoble, France). The LGP2 is part of the LabEx Tec 21 (Grant Agreement No. ANR-11-LABX-0030), the Institut Carnot Polynat (Grant Agreement No. ANR-16-CARN-002501) and the Cross disciplinary program Glyco@Alps (Investissements d’avenir – Grant agreement ANR-15-IDEX-02). Authors would like to thank Jean-Luc Puteaux and the NanoBio-ICMG platform (UAR 2607) for granting access to the TEM in CERMAV (Grenoble, France), Thierry Encinas in CMTC for XRD analysis (Grenoble, France) and Novozymes for the enzymes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, LGP2, 38000, Grenoble, France

    Emilien Freville, Maxime Terrien, Evelyne Mauret & Julien Bras

  2. Centre Technique du Papier, 38000, Grenoble, France

    Emilien Freville, Elisa Zeno, Valérie Meyer & Bruno Carré

  3. Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 75000, Paris, France

    Julien Bras

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Freville, E., Zeno, E., Meyer, V. et al. Process stability optimization of the twin-screw extrusion adapted for concentrated cellulose fibrillation. J Mater Sci 59, 15904–15919 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-024-10115-7

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