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It was a pleasure to follow the themes of the Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and Physics this year. We returned to the prerequisites for everyday chemical products that are important to everyone. In 2025, Kitagawa, Robson and Yaghi were awarded for their significant research into organometallic compounds. Organometallic compounds are also important for all life, such as hemoglobin and chlorophyll. Organometallic compounds have been central to the controlled production of polymers and plastics, as well as widely in technical chemistry. Fiber chemistry and textile dyeing and other treatments can also be included. Therefore, they can also play an important role in the recycling of materials. I myself wrote a BSc thesis in 1972 on the reactions of metals and hydrocarbons, from which oil-based polymers are created. On the physics side, the prize winners Clarke, Devoret and Martinis have done significant research into the quantum phenomena of electromagnetic radiation. Quantized electron/light radiation with different materials enables semiconductor applications (IT technology) today and improved quantum computers tomorrow. These are often phenomena observed in basic research, for which it is not always known in advance what they could be used for and applications are found in innovative needs. Basic research is needed to ...

Abstract Pertti Nousiainen, Cellulose Fibres Conference 13-14 March 2024 Cologne, Germany Key aspects of the down-stream conversion processes of fibers to products include mechanical, thermal, and chemical processing. Automation and robotics are gaining impact on textile and clothing production and facilitate textile production closer to customers and become more efficient and sustainable. Raw materials with their mechanical and chemical processing should not appear as a weak link in the chain and must fulfil sustainability requirements. The increased use of cotton-like MMCF`s reduces the cleaning and fiber dimension controlling stages of the in a spinning factory and no alkaline pretreatments are needed. It is necessary that textile chemicals, such as dyes, finishing agents and auxiliaries are produced as biobased, and used efficiently for minimizing waste-water contamination. Coloration with more than 25000 possible industrial dye molecules involves a complex application of dyestuffs on textiles because of the variety of fibres, filaments, yarns, and fabrics. Textile and materials requiring coloration and the diverse nature of the end-use and performance requirements are setting multiple requirements. Coloration is mainly carried out in aqueous media may be carried out by dyeing the materials to a uniform colour, or by printing to impart a design or motif ...

The 4rd Cellulose Fibre Conference in Cologne: Cellulose MM-fibers growth estimated 13 mill. tons by 2030 Production of Man-Made cellulose fibers The 4rd Cellulose Fibre Conference in Cologne was secondly organised during Covid19 restricted conditions. It didn´t limit the number of participation due to interesting program covering sustainability, recycling, and alternative feedstocks as well as latest development in pulp, cellulose fibres, and textiles. Some new technical application areas of non-woven, packaging and composites were discussed, as well. With increased production dominated by viscose, capacities of more than 7 million tonnes of cellulose fibre products are expanding in technical hygiene and textiles. Due to their possibilities to reach extra high tensile properties, alternatives for carbon fibres for light-weight applications are under development. The textile industry is remaining a growth model despite of the current slowing of economics boosted by Russian-generated war in Europe. Additional fiber demand of 22 million tons is expected until 2025. The Fiber Year Consulting Group assumes that viscose, especially lyocell fibers will continue to outperform the market having potential demand of 4-5 million tons of new market by 2025. Growing awareness of need for sustainable clothing stimulates viscose fiber growth. The estimation of Textil2Fashion is expecting that ...

Presentation: Pertti Nousiainen, Cellulose Fibres Conference 13-14 March 2024 Cologne, Germany Raw materials of fibers Key aspects of the down-stream conversion processes of fibers to products include mechanical, thermal, and chemical processing. Automation and robotics are gaining impact on textile and clothing production and facilitate textile production closer to customers and become more efficient and sustainable. Raw materials with their mechanical and chemical processing should not appear as a weak link in the chain and must fulfil sustainability requirements. The increased use of cotton-like MMCF`s reduces the cleaning and fiber dimension controlling stages of the in a spinning factory and no alkaline pretreatments are needed. It is necessary that textile chemicals, such as dyes, finishing agents and auxiliaries are produced as biobased, and used efficiently for minimizing waste-water contamination. Nonwovens produced by 4 main methods represent sustainable – capital intensive – chain for many technical and medical products with less dyes and finishes. Optimisation of the hybrid needlepunching with hydroentanling-process parameters is developed for many protective apparel applications. Usage of nonwovens in basic clothing is still a challenge. Spin finishes About 1 million tons of spin finishes are used in production and processing of man-made fibres (staple/filaments). Man-made fibres and ...

Abstract Pertti Nousiainen, Cellulose Fibres Conference 13-14 March 2024 Cologne, Germany   Key aspects of the down-stream conversion processes of fibers to products include mechanical, thermal, and chemical processing. Automation and robotics are gaining impact on textile and clothing production and facilitate textile production closer to customers and become more efficient and sustainable. Raw materials with their mechanical and chemical processing should not appear as a weak link in the chain and must fulfil sustainability requirements. The increased use of cotton-like MMCF`s reduces the cleaning and fiber dimension controlling stages of the in a spinning factory and no alkaline pretreatments are needed. It is necessary that textile chemicals, such as dyes, finishing agents and auxiliaries are produced as biobased, and used efficiently for minimizing waste-water contamination. Coloration with more than 25000 possible industrial dye molecules involves a complex application of dyestuffs on textiles because of the variety of fibres, filaments, yarns, and fabrics. Textile and materials requiring coloration and the diverse nature of the end-use and performance requirements are setting multiple requirements. Coloration is mainly carried out in aqueous media may be carried out by dyeing the materials to a uniform colour, or by printing to impart a design or ...

Raw materials of fibers Key aspects of the down-stream conversion processes of fibers to products include mechanical, thermal, and chemical processing. Automation and robotics are gaining impact on textile and clothing production and facilitate textile production closer to customers and become more efficient and sustainable. Raw materials with their mechanical and chemical processing should not appear as a weak link in the chain and must fulfil sustainability requirements. The increased use of cotton-like MMCF`s reduces the cleaning and fiber dimension controlling stages of the in a spinning factory and no alkaline pretreatments are needed. It is necessary that textile chemicals, such as dyes, finishing agents and auxiliaries are produced as biobased, and used efficiently for minimizing waste-water contamination. Nonwovens produced by 4 main methods represent sustainable – capital intensive – chain for many technical and medical products with less dyes and finishes. Optimisation of the hybrid needlepunching with hydroentanling-process parameters is developed for many protective apparel applications. Usage of nonwovens in basic clothing is still a challenge. Spin finishes About 1 million tons of spin finishes are used in production and processing of man-made fibres (staple/filaments). Man-made fibres and many natural fibers are surface-treated by 0,1-1 % of a spin ...

The 4rd Cellulose Fibre Conference in Cologne: Cellulose MM-fibers growth estimated 13 mill. tons by 2030 Production of Man-Made cellulose fibers The 4rd Cellulose Fibre Conference in Cologne was secondly organised during Covid19 restricted conditions. It didn´t limit the number of participation due to interesting program covering sustainability, recycling, and alternative feedstocks as well as latest development in pulp, cellulose fibres, and textiles. Some new technical application areas of non-woven, packaging and composites were discussed, as well. With increased production dominated by viscose, capacities of more than 7 million tonnes of cellulose fibre products are expanding in technical hygiene and textiles. Due to their possibilities to reach extra high tensile properties, alternatives for carbon fibres for light-weight applications are under development. The textile industry is remaining a growth model despite of the current slowing of economics boosted by Russian-generated war in Europe. Additional fiber demand of 22 million tons is expected until 2025. The Fiber Year Consulting Group assumes that viscose, especially lyocell fibers will continue to outperform the market having potential demand of 4-5 million tons of new market by 2025. Growing awareness of need for sustainable clothing stimulates viscose fiber growth. The estimation of Textil2Fashion is expecting that the MMCF market ...

Highlights and topics Carbon fibers from cellulose Nonwoven production technologies with pulp Production technologies The environmental development of viscose and lyocell fibers Recycling cotton and PET/cotton cellulose for viscose raw material Chemical recycling of waste textiles Alternative feedstocks for cellulose fibers Functional viscose fibers and composites Cell-cultivated cotton materials Carbon fibers from cellulose Cellulose as the raw material for carbon fibers has been studied since Edison, who used cotton yarns as the conductive fibers in electrical vacuum class bulb lamps for lightning. Problems with cellulose-based carbon fibers generate from the orientation of starting polymer, and low carbon and high oxygen content result in complex pyrolyzing chemistry. As the result, yields of carbon fibers and their properties are much lower compared to pitch and polyacrylonitrile. The Denkendorf research team (Vocht, Ota, Hermanutz, Buchmeiser) at DITF receives the award at the Cellulose3 Conference for the development of carbon fibers from cellulose.  The process uses an ionic liquid solvent for wood and non-wood cellulosic materials for manufacturing carbon fibers with adaptable fiber properties. The oriented cellulose fibers are suitable in the formation of the high tenacity carbon fiber structure at 1400°C using continuous lab-scale processing at high carbon yield. The invention may result ...

Amazingly, plastic pollution in the sea and the rest of nature seems to be activating microbial evolution. Preliminary studies In the EU Crowth program in 2001, we found environmentally friendly enzyme methods to improve the dyeability and properties of synthetic textiles. https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/G5RD-CT-2001-00560/pl  Trametes hirsuta laccase and laccase mediators such as violetic acid and tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) based compounds were used to treat polyamide (6.6), polyester (PET) and polyacrylic. It was found that surface treatment can save dyestuffs, energy, and water in the dyeing of textiles. Coating chemicals in the manufacture of protective textiles and coverings could be saved, as well. (Nousiainen et. al., Xth Int Izmir Symp 2004). Searching enzymes from nature A novel study by Chalmers shows that there is also an increase in the number of degrading enzymes in areas with high levels of plastic contamination. The new results are based on DNA analyses of samples taken from hundreds of locations around the world, both on land and at sea, showing how plastics affect global microbiology. The presence of these enzymes was also compared with official data on plastic pollution in land and sea areas. More than 30,000 types of enzymes were found that can degrade ten different common plastics. The most ...