Nasim Amiralian
The University of Queensland, Australia.
Title: Potential Applications for High Aspect Ratio Cellulose Nanofibres Extracted From ‘Spinifex’, an Australian Arid Grass
Biography
Biography: Nasim Amiralian
Abstract
Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer on earth, and its nanoscale fibres have rapidly gained prominence as high-performance nanomaterials for many applications, due to their sustainability, renewability, tunable surface chemistry, superb mechanical properties, cost-effectiveness and many health and safety benefits. Cellulose nanofibrils represent the most sought after sustainable nanomaterials of our time, with one recent conservative nanocellulose market report predicting that the North American market alone will reach US$250 million by 2020, and that global production will ramp up from approximately 350 metric tonnes today to 3500 metric tonnes by 2017. In 2013 our team discovered1-3 unique high aspect ratio (length-to-diameter) cellulose nanofibrils extracted from ‘spinifex’, an Australian native arid grass. This was done using a mild pulping procedure and low mechanical energy. This novelty means that spinifex has the potential to directly address the current technological bottlenecks that have so far limited the widespread translation of nanocellulose technology. The presentation will give an overview of our group research and technology development activities related to spinifex nanofibers, with potential applications including filtration membranes, polymer composites and low cost, renewable carbon fibres.