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The global transition towards sustainability has sparked significant interest in bio-based materials and energy-efficient technologies. Among these, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), derived from renewable resources, have shown great potential for use in composites, biomedical materials, and packaging. However, a major challenge in CNC production is the energy-intensive drying process, which often requires removing large amounts of water from low-concentration suspensions.

To address this issue, a team of researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Purdue University has introduced a novel multi-frequency ultrasonic drying technology. This method not only accelerates the drying process but also reduces energy consumption compared to traditional drying techniques such as hot air, spray, and freeze drying.

The research is published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts.

Moreover, the ultrasonic drying method demonstrated superior stability in aqueous solutions, with zeta potentials ranging from -35 to -65 mV, a critical factor for the colloidal stability of CNCs.

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