A licensing agreement to further develop and commercialise of a method for producing Micro-Crystalline Cellulose (MCC) from paper mill waste has been signed by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Yissum Research Development Company (YRDC) and bio-based composite research company, Melodea.

According to YRDC the MCC is processed into micro-structured foams, which can replace fossil fuel-based foams in a vast variety of applications. It is produced by processing wood pulp.

The company claimed that MCC is considered an environmentally friendly option for a variety of materials, including plastic and metal, and is transparent, strong, cost-effective, and safer than non-organic alternatives.

During the process of paper production, around 30% of the total fibres initially produced are washed as sludge. According to the YRDC, in Europe alone, eleven million tonnes of this waste is produced annually.

The company explained that the scientists found that fibres from paper mill sludge to be an ideal source for MCC production, and have also developed a method of processing MCC into micro-structured foams which are highly porous and light weight.

The new MCC based foams display technical performance which matches current high end synthetic foams. Application of these 100% bio-based foams, as core material in sandwich composites as well as in other fields, is currently being developed, added the YRDC.

The technology itself was developed by Professor Oded Shoseyov and Dr. Shaul Lapidot from the Robert H. Smith from the university's Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, and co-founders of Melodea together with Tord Gustafsson - a Swedish composite material expert.

"Micro-Crystalline Cellulose is one of the most promising materials currently being developed. The variety of applications for MCC is vast, and could potentially make non-organic plastics a distant memory," commented Shoseyov.