 |
|
|
|
|
BASF and Institute for Textile Chemistry and Chemical Fibers to Improve Efficiency and Environmental Impact of Cellulose Fiber Production
Cellulose fibers can be produced in an efficient and environmentally sustainable manner by using ionic liquids. This is the result drawn by BASF and the renowned Denkendorf Institute for Textile Chemistry and Chemical Fibers (ITCF). BASF sells its ionic liquids under the brand name BasionicTM, and the corresponding processes are marketed under the name BasilTM.
Practical tests BASF and the ITCF have jointly carried out for more than a year have shown that the efficiency of the production process can be greatly enhanced by the use of ionic liquids. This is because in ionic liquids, cellulose shows clearly better results for dissolving behavior and technically useful concentrations. “Cellulose fibers produced by means of ionic liquids have already now properties comparable to those of conventionally made fibers,” said Dr. Eric Uerdingen of the New Business Development team within BASF’s Intermediates division.
Around the globe, most cellulose fibers are manufactured from so-called dissolving pulp by means of the viscose process. Although this technology has been improved continuously in the past decades, it consumes more than two metric tons of chemical additives and considerable fresh water volumes per metric ton of cellulose fiber made, requiring major waste water treatment efforts. In contrast to this, the ionic liquids used as solvent can be almost entirely recycled. This also applies to the water required in fiber spinning. In addition to this, additive consumption drops significantly.
Practice-focused development
“Together with Dr. Klemens Massonne’s group at BASF’s Chemicals Research and Engineering competence center, we are developing the most suitable ionic liquids,” said ITCF researcher Dr. Frank Hermanutz, adding: “With its broad range of ionic liquids, BASF is the ideal partner.” Reconditioning and reuse of ionic liquids as well as the development of customized processes also figure on the development agenda. Uerdingen explained: “We have teamed up with ITCF, who have extensive fiber manufacturing experience, to develop this new technology and practical processes for fiber manufacturers. To design processes that respond to practical requirements, we now seek to co-operate closely with fiber manufacturers.”
Since late last year BASF has also been collaborating with the University of Alabama (UoA) in the United States. This collaborative endeavor focuses on fundamental cellulose processing research with a view to expanding the use of renewable resources.
Cellulose: A major renewable resource
Occurring at a volume of some 700 billion tons, cellulose is the earth’s most widespread natural organic chemical and, thus, highly important as a biorenewable resource. Even out of the 40 billion tons nature renews every year, only 0.1 billion tons are used as feedstock for further processing.
SOURCE: http://www.chempoint.com/industrynewsdetails.asp?DocumentName=20060829_BASF&index=2
|
|
|
SA wool growers oppose AWI levy increase
Wool growers in southern South Australia say they will not support a push to increase the levy they pay to the peak body, Australian Wool Innovation (AWI).
A report released this week says AWI has returned $417 million in benefits to the wool industry.
But growers say they will not vote to increase the levy above the current rate of 2 per cent in this year's wool poll.
Tony Hedges, from Keith, does not think growers should pay anything.
"What have they done for us?" he said.
"What they're doing now is the repeat of what they did 20 years ago, and what happened 20 years ago was the repeat of what they did 20 years before.
"I don't think they need any more money, I think they squander what money they've got there now.
"They've had their chances and they've blown it, I think."
Trevor Little, from Kongorong, says growers have seen little output from the AWI.
"The money that's been achieved over the years, and many years of the levy on the wool has not really in the last 10 years achieved anything," he said.
Malcolm McDonald, from Willalooka Pastoral Company, added: "I don't think, from a promotional point of view, that it's been spent wisely.
SOURCE: http://au.biz.yahoo.com/060830/31/v68z.html
|
|
|
Smart fabrics are back in fashion
The Italian town of Prato has been built on cloth.
There is even a museum there dedicated to its history, so there is no better place to weave together traditional Italian know-how with digital technology and come up with the next generation of cloth, what they are calling "smart fabric".
A company called Luminex has hit on the idea of weaving fibre-optics into fabric, so the wearer can really light up a room when they enter it.
Luminex's Cristiano Peruzzi says: "It is a fabric containing, amongst other things, fibre-optics, but there is also a technical side to it.
"The system consists of cabling, and the fibre-optics are lit by high-efficiency LEDs. The system powering it varies according to the function."
It is easy to see how this technology could conceivably save lives in conditions where visibility is low, such as in fog or smoke
Luminex's glimmering garments include shining shawls, as well as shirts and trousers that twinkle. But it is not just night-clubbers whose stars are coming out at night.
Cristiano Peruzzi says: "There are more immediate applications, everything from clothes for special events or occasions and accessories, and also household furnishings, cushions etc.
"But there are also a whole range of applications that are more technical, such as the security and emergency services."
It is easy to see how this technology could conceivably save lives in conditions where visibility is low, such as in fog or smoke.
Putting technology into fashion might also save the life of Prato's home-grown fabrics industry, currently meeting the challenge of new competition from Chinese companies and imports.
SOURCE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/5286594.stm
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
