The present disclosure relates to cellulose nanomaterials made or derived from tobacco and methods for the production thereof. The tobacco-derived cellulose nanomaterials can be employed in various industrial applications such as film forming applications and solution thickening technologies. In particular, the disclosure is directed to methods for preparing tobacco-derived cellulose nanomaterials using less fibrillation cycles than in the production of wood pulp. The invention includes a method for preparing tobacco derived nanocellulose material comprising receiving a tobacco pulp in a dilute form such that the tobacco pulp is a tobacco pulp suspension with a consistency of less than about 5%; and mechanically fibrillating the tobacco pulp suspension to generate a tobacco derived nanocellulose material having at least one average particle size dimension in the range of about 1 nm to about 100 nm.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of nano-fibrillar cellulose gels by providing cellulose fibers and at least one filler and/or pigment; combining the cellulose fibers and the at least one filler and/or pigment; and fibrillating the cellulose fibers in the presence of the at least one filler and/or pigment until a gel is formed, as well as the nano-fibrillar cellulose gel obtained by this process and uses thereof.

The present invention relates to a process for the production of nano-fibrillar cellulose gels by providing cellulose fibers and at least one filler and/or pigment; combining the cellulose fibers and the at least one filler and/or pigment; and fibrillating the cellulose fibers in the presence of the at least one filler and/or pigment until a gel is formed, as well as the nano-fibrillar cellulose gel obtained by this process and uses thereof.

A compactly configurable device that classifies material containing fiber can more reliably recover classified content. A classifier has a mesh disc with numerous holes, and separates screenings that pass through the holes from remnants that do not pass through; a defibrated material spray nozzle disposed to one side of the mesh disc sprays defibrated material containing fiber onto the mesh disc; a suction conduit disposed to the other side of the mesh disc suctions the waste screenings that pass through the holes; and a recovery conduit disposed on the one side of the mesh disc suctions the processing feedstock that do not pass through the holes and in the mesh disc and remain on the mesh disc. The mesh disc is disposed so the a position of the holes can move from a spraying position opposite the defibrated material spray nozzle to a suction position opposite the recovery conduit. The recovery conduit suctions, at the suction position, processing feedstock that was left at the spraying position.

A compactly configurable device that classifies material containing fiber can more reliably recover classified content. A classifier has a mesh disc with numerous holes, and separates screenings that pass through the holes from remnants that do not pass through; a defibrated material spray nozzle disposed to one side of the mesh disc sprays defibrated material containing fiber onto the mesh disc; a suction conduit disposed to the other side of the mesh disc suctions the waste screenings that pass through the holes; and a recovery conduit disposed on the one side of the mesh disc suctions the processing feedstock that do not pass through the holes and in the mesh disc and remain on the mesh disc. The mesh disc is disposed so the a position of the holes can move from a spraying position opposite the defibrated material spray nozzle to a suction position opposite the recovery conduit. The recovery conduit suctions, at the suction position, processing feedstock that was left at the spraying position.

Methods of fractionating lignocellulosic biomass using hydrotropic sulfonic acids are provided. Also provided are methods of forming lignin particles, furans, sugars, and/or lignocellulosic micro- and nanofibrils from the liquid and solid fractions produced by fractionation process. The fractionation can be carried out at low temperatures with short reaction times.

Methods of fractionating lignocellulosic biomass using hydrotropic sulfonic acids are provided. Also provided are methods of forming lignin particles, furans, sugars, and/or lignocellulosic micro- and nanofibrils from the liquid and solid fractions produced by fractionation process. The fractionation can be carried out at low temperatures with short reaction times.

The present invention relates to a method of producing microfibrillated cellu-lose (MFC) comprising (i) providing cellulosic material, (ii) drying the cellulosic material so that specific surface area (SSA), when measured with BET-method, is at most 10 m.sup.2/g, and (iii) subjecting the dried cellulosic material to mechanical treatment. The present invention additionally relates to microfibril-lated cellulose produced with the method of the present invention.

The present disclosure relates to cellulose nanomaterials made or derived from tobacco and methods for the production thereof. The tobacco-derived cellulose nanomaterials can be employed in various industrial applications such as film forming applications and solution thickening technologies. In particular, the disclosure is directed to methods for preparing tobacco-derived cellulose nanomaterials using less fibrillation cycles than in the production of wood pulp. The invention includes a method for preparing tobacco derived nanocellulose material comprising receiving a tobacco pulp in a dilute form such that the tobacco pulp is a tobacco pulp suspension with a consistency of less than about 5%; and mechanically fibrillating the tobacco pulp suspension to generate a tobacco derived nanocellulose material having at least one average particle size dimension in the range of about 1 nm to about 100 nm.

The present disclosure relates to cellulose nanomaterials made or derived from tobacco and methods for the production thereof. The tobacco-derived cellulose nanomaterials can be employed in various industrial applications such as film forming applications and solution thickening technologies. In particular, the disclosure is directed to methods for preparing tobacco-derived cellulose nanomaterials using less fibrillation cycles than in the production of wood pulp. The invention includes a method for preparing tobacco derived nanocellulose material comprising receiving a tobacco pulp in a dilute form such that the tobacco pulp is a tobacco pulp suspension with a consistency of less than about 5%; and mechanically fibrillating the tobacco pulp suspension to generate a tobacco derived nanocellulose material having at least one average particle size dimension in the range of about 1 nm to about 100 nm.