FPInnovations, a not-for-profit organization, has announced the opening of its latest NanoCrystalline Cellulose (NCC) research facilities, which include an advanced pilot plant, latest equipment for its laboratory at Quebec City, and two new research labs at Point-Claire.
The two Pointe-Claire labs are basically utilized for NCC chemistry and to classify the nanocomposites and NCC. In Quebec City, the newly installed lab equipment is currently utilized to develop sophisticated wood materials with superior appearance and structure.
FPInnovations has spent around $4.1 million in the construction of new labs and in the purchase of research equipment. Nearly 80% of the costs were met by Ministère du Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation du Québec and the balance 20% costs were met under Transformative Technologies Program of Natural Resources Canada.
The pilot plant, designed with a manufacturing capability of 3 kg a day, incorporates equipment that utilizes the latest technology, which allows quick transfer of results into industrial level production process. The plant incorporates automatic control features and safety measures to maintain the standard of the products and to improve workplace safety.
The new production facility will enable the production of NCCs in required quantities to meet the needs of various research groups at FPInnovations as well as the needs of external research organizations. It will assist in improving the NCC modification methods and forge a Domtar-FPInnovations partnership to commercialize NCCs. It will also assist in formulating new grades of NCC over 10 or so that have been identified.