bioplastics-2016_keynote

4 / 7

Volume 7 Issue 6(Suppl) J Bioremediat Biodegrad
ISSN: 2155-6199 JBRBD, an open access journal
Page 22
Bioplastics 2016
November 10-11, 2016
conferenceseries.com
November 10-11, 2016 Alicante, Spain
International Conference onSustainable Bioplastics
Matjaz Kunaver, J Bioremediat Biodegrad 2016, 7:6(Suppl)
Biomass waste: A source of raw materials and nanocellulose
Biomass represents an immense and renewable source for the production of bio-fuels and valuable chemicals. Using
liquefaction reaction, lignocellulosic components are depolymerized to low molecular mass compounds with high
reactivity, high hydroxyl group content and can be used in many useful applications. We used liquefied biomass as a feedstock
in polymer chemistry, such as synthesis of polyesters, polyurethane foams and adhesives. Herein, we also report on the
optimized procedure for rapid preparation of nanocrystalline cellulose by liquefaction of its amorphous part of cellulose,
lignin and hemicelluloses in ethylene glycol under acidic catalysis. Lignocellulosic biomass which was dispersed in glycol and
methane sulfonic acid was used as a catalyst. The NCC was isolated as a residue, rinsed with 1,4-dioxane and centrifuged. The
product was a NCC suspension in 1,4-dioxane or similar medium polar solvent. The crystallinity index was from 83% to 90%
and the yield was more than 67% while using cotton as the starting material. Method for preparation of NCC by acid hydrolysis
in ethylene glycol is a model procedure for NCC isolation from different natural cellulosic sources such as biomass with high
yields and with high crystallinity index. A special attention was given to the utilization of the liquefied lignocellulosic materials
as a new energy source with high heating value. The utilization of liquefied lignocellulosic materials can at least partially reduce
the crude oil consumption, thus increasing the use of the renewable resources in large extent.
Biography
Matjaz Kunaver has done his MSc from the University of Leeds, UK in 1991 and has received his PhD degree in 1998 at the University of Leeds, UK. He is a Senior
Scientist Researcher at the National Institute of Chemistry, Laboratory for Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Ljubljana, Slovenia and is an Assistant Professor
at the University of Ljubljana and Polymer Technology College. His main fields of research are the utilization of biomass as a feedstock for polymer synthesis and
production of nanocellulose. He has published more than 50 original scientific papers and 6 patents.
Matjaz Kunaver
National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia