- The pilot plant is expected to be operational within nine months.
- The raw material will be supplied from Sappi's Saiccor, Ngodwana, and Cloquet plants.
- The plant will produce dry re-dispersible Cellulose NanoFibrils using proprietary technology.
- The Government of the Province of Limburg provided significant financial support.
Project Overview
Sappi Limited will build a pilot-scale plant for low-cost Cellulose NanoFibrils (CNF) production at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in the Netherlands. The plant is expected to be operational within nine months.
Strategic Goals
The pilot plant will support Sappi’s strategy to expand into new business fields based on renewable raw materials. The raw material for the plant will be sourced from Sappi’s Saiccor, Ngodwana, and Cloquet dissolving wood pulp plants. This pilot plant is a precursor to a potential commercial CNF plant.
Technological Innovation
The plant will test the manufacturing of dry re-dispersible CNF using proprietary technology developed by Sappi and Edinburgh Napier University. The CNF produced will have unique morphology, suitable for hydrophobic or hydrophilic applications, and will be used in various products, including fiber-reinforced composites, plastics, food, pharmaceuticals, and coatings.
Collaborative Efforts
Located at Brightlands Chemelot Campus, the plant will benefit from access to multiple partners for co-developing CNF-based products. The initiative aligns with the campus’s focus on bio-based materials and new pilot plant infrastructure.
Research and Development
In December 2014, Sappi and Edinburgh Napier University announced a low-cost, energy-saving process for producing nanocellulose without generating large volumes of chemical wastewater. This process uses unique, recyclable chemistry to break down wood pulp fibers into nanocellulose.
Support and Funding
The Government of the Province of Limburg in the Netherlands has provided significant support and financial contributions towards the establishment of the pilot plant.
