Domtar, FPInnovations to Build World’s First Fiber-Based Nanotechnologies Demo Plant

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Domtar Corp., Montreal, Que., Canada, and Canada-based FPInnovations this past week announced that they have formed a new joint venture company to build the world's first 1 metric tpd commercial-scale nanocrystalline cellulose demonstration plant at the Domtar Windsor, Que., pulp and paper mill site. Construction will begin in the coming weeks and will take approximately 20 months to be completed.

Nanocrystalline cellulose is a renewable, recyclable, and abundant nanomaterial made of cellulose fibers from the wood pulp manufacturing process. Potential applications include optically-reflective films, high-durability varnishes, and innovative bioplastics. Domtar notes that the properties of this material will provide new opportunities in a wide range of applications for a variety of sectors and markets such as the aerospace, automotive, chemical, textile, and forestry industries. There are promising applications for the aerospace industry that will complement Quebec's innovative aerospace "green" aircraft program, the company adds.

"As the leader in our industry, we are very excited to explore new frontiers by bringing together our operational expertise and the technical knowledge of FPInnovations for the efficient manufacture of this innovative and renewable product," says John D. Williams, president and CEO of Domtar. "The remarkable properties of nanocrystalline cellulose and wide range of potential applications speak volumes about the commercial potential of new fiber-based products that go beyond traditional pulp and paper applications."

Pierre Lapointe, president and CEO of FPInnovations, adds that "this is an important milestone cumulating more than 15 years of R&D investments towards the future development of fiber-based products for the industrial world. During this time FPInnovations developed an extensive intellectual property portfolio around the manufacturing and application of nanocrystalline cellulose. I am confident that this partnership and the strong support of both governments will lead to exciting and successful new commercial applications."

The cost of construction of the demonstration plant is approximately C$32.4 million and operating costs are estimated at C$8.4 million, for a total investment of C$40.8 million. C$12 million of Domtar's total contribution has been submitted for funding approval under the Government of Canada's Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program. Natural Resources Canada and Quebec's Natural Resources and Wildlife Ministry are contributing C$10.2 million each to FPInnovations' portion of the funding of this project..

During the construction phase, the project will provide approximately 50 jobs as well as engineering services from the Quebec and the Canadian engineering firms, Teknika and Noram, respectively. Approximately 10 permanent positions will be needed to operate the demonstration plant. In addition, numerous researchers and scientific personnel have been and will continue working to deliver on the potential new nanocrystalline cellulose applications and products.

Following the construction phase, under the joint venture agreement, Domtar and FPInnovations will explore the commercial viability of the production of nanocrystalline cellulose on a larger commercial scale.

The development and impact of this new demo plant will be analyzed and discussed in detail, together with other nanocyrstalline cellulose (NCC) and nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) breakthrough trends and developments, at the 2010 TAPPI International Conference on Nanotechnologies for the Forest Product Industry, September 27 - 29, in the Dipoli Congress Centre, Espoo, Finland. TAPPI’s annual Nanotechnology conference focuses on bringing the newest advances in the field to the technical program, promoting the versatility and promise of cellulose-based nanomaterials, and offering the technical community networking opportunities to advance development of these promising technologies. More information about this event is available online. .