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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/J015687/1
Title: SPACE: Sustainable Production of Aerogels from Cellulose
Principal Investigator: Hewakandamby, Dr BN
Other Investigators:
Azzopardi, Professor B
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Lemitec GmbH Nanopore Incorporated
Department: Div of Process and Environmental Eng
Organisation: University of Nottingham
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 01 September 2012 Ends: 31 August 2016 Value (£): 620,901
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Design of Process systems Particle Technology
Reactor Engineering
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing Chemicals
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
03 Feb 2012 Engineering Prioritisation Meeting - 3 Feb 2012 Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
SPACE will develop the fundamental science required to underpin the development of continuous production processes for turning the most abundant natural material, cellulose, into high value nanostructured materials with well defined pore structures and pore functionality. It is based on my recent discovery that aerogels can be prepared by assembling cellulose nanowhiskers at low energy and without the use of toxic solvents or precursors. Cellulose nanowhiskers are monocrystalline rod-like nanoparticles made from plant material by a two-day multi-step acid hydrolysis batch process. Their self-assembly and surface modification is also performed in multi-step batch processes. SPACE will convert existing batch processes for nanoparticle production, surface modification and self-assembly into scalable continuous processes, through the development of a fundamental scientific understanding of different continuous nanomaterial processing techniques. This, in turn, will open up small and large scale production of multi-functional porous materials with a wide range of potential applications, including insulation, gas and liquid adsorption and separations, organic catalysis and sensing while increasing product quality, improving consistency, and greatly lowering the economic and environmental cost. The demonstrators will be designed to produce around 220 g of nanomaterials per hour (~5 kg per day).
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk