Disclosed is a method for producing nanocelluloses from a cellulose substrate including cellulose fibers, the method including the following sequence of steps: a step of enzymatic treatment of the cellulose substrate, by bringing same into contact with at least one cleaving enzyme, then a step of mechanical treatment of the cellulose substrate subjected to the step of enzymatic treatment, in order to delaminate the cellulose fibres and obtain the nanocelluloses. The at least one cleaving enzyme is chosen from the enzymes belonging to the family of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) capable of achieving cleavage in the presence of an electron donor. Also disclosed are the nanocelluloses obtained according to the method.

Disclosed is a method for producing nanocelluloses from a cellulose substrate including cellulose fibers, the method including the following sequence of steps: a step of enzymatic treatment of the cellulose substrate, by bringing same into contact with at least one cleaving enzyme, then a step of mechanical treatment of the cellulose substrate subjected to the step of enzymatic treatment, in order to delaminate the cellulose fibres and obtain the nanocelluloses. The at least one cleaving enzyme is chosen from the enzymes belonging to the family of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) capable of achieving cleavage in the presence of an electron donor. Also disclosed are the nanocelluloses obtained according to the method.

A composition and method of preparing a composition is presented wherein the composition comprises cellulose platelets and the cellulose platelets comprise at least 60% cellulose by dry weight, less than 10% pectin by dry weight and at least 5% hemicellulose by dry weight. The composition can be concentrated to at least 25% by weight solids content by pressing under low pressure, whilst retaining the ability to be re suspended within an aqueous medium. The resulting aqueous medium obtains the desired properties of the composition, such as increased viscosity or increased dispersion of pigment particles, for example, to the same extent as the composition before pressing.

A composition and method of preparing a composition is presented wherein the composition comprises cellulose platelets and the cellulose platelets comprise at least 60% cellulose by dry weight, less than 10% pectin by dry weight and at least 5% hemicellulose by dry weight. The composition can be concentrated to at least 25% by weight solids content by pressing under low pressure, whilst retaining the ability to be re suspended within an aqueous medium. The resulting aqueous medium obtains the desired properties of the composition, such as increased viscosity or increased dispersion of pigment particles, for example, to the same extent as the composition before pressing.

Processes for pulping raw pulp material, such as wood chips, to provide pulp fibers having increased bulk, as well as bleaching the resulting pulp fibers to provide bleached pulp fibers having increased bulk. These pulp fibers and bleached pulp fibers may be incorporated into or used various products, such as multi-ply coated paperboards, fluff pulp, etc.

There is provided a method of producing a paper, comprising the steps of: a) providing a pulp having a Schopper-Riegler (SR) number measured according to ISO 5267-1:1999 of 25-50, which pulp comprises at least 70% by weight sulphate or sulphite pulp; b) diluting the pulp to a consistency of 0.1%-0.9%; and c) forming a web from the diluted pulp from step b) in a forming section at a machine speed of at least 1100 m/min, such as 1100-1800 m/min.

There is provided a method of producing a paper, comprising the steps of: a) providing a pulp having a Schopper-Riegler (SR) number measured according to ISO 5267-1:1999 of 25-50, which pulp comprises at least 70% by weight sulphate or sulphite pulp; b) diluting the pulp to a consistency of 0.1%-0.9%; and c) forming a web from the diluted pulp from step b) in a forming section at a machine speed of at least 1100 m/min, such as 1100-1800 m/min.

Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity nanocellulose with low mechanical energy input. In some variations, the process includes fractionating biomass with sulfur dioxide or a sulfite compound and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form nanofibrils and/or nanocrystals. The total mechanical energy may be less than 500 kilowatt-hours per ton. The crystallinity of the nanocellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. The nanocellulose material may include nanofibrillated cellulose, nanocrystalline cellulose, or both. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose material is hydrophobic via deposition of some lignin onto the cellulose surface. Optionally, sugars derived from amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose may be separately fermented, such as to monomers for various polymers. These polymers may be combined with the nanocellulose to form completely renewable composites.

Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity nanocellulose with low mechanical energy input. In some variations, the process includes fractionating biomass with sulfur dioxide or a sulfite compound and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form nanofibrils and/or nanocrystals. The total mechanical energy may be less than 500 kilowatt-hours per ton. The crystallinity of the nanocellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. The nanocellulose material may include nanofibrillated cellulose, nanocrystalline cellulose, or both. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose material is hydrophobic via deposition of some lignin onto the cellulose surface. Optionally, sugars derived from amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose may be separately fermented, such as to monomers for various polymers. These polymers may be combined with the nanocellulose to form completely renewable composites.

Some variations provide a process for producing a nanocellulose material, comprising: providing a biomass feedstock comprising a bleached or unbleached pulp material; fractionating the feedstock in the presence of an acid, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form cellulose fibrils and/or cellulose crystals, thereby generating a nanocellulose material. The process is preferably co-located with, or adjacent to, a mill that generates the pulp material. There are several advantages of a bolt-on AVAP nanocellulose plant to an existing pulp mill, as disclosed herein.