Cellulose as an alternative to inorganic white materials: exploiting the circular economy for sustainable cellulose photonic pigments engineering

The industry has long relied on the use of high refractive index media, such as titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and other inorganic materials to produce so-called light scattering enhancers. Such materials are processed in the production of white coatings and to improve performances of colour pigments in a large variety of industries from cosmetic to food colouration. However, they have recently been found to be cancerogenic and dangerous to humans and the environment. Therefore, it is crucial to find more safe and sustainable replacements offering a similar optical response.

The project aims at developing a nano-cellulose technology that allows achieving the same optical performances of commercial scattering enhancers while completely avoiding inorganics. It will produce cellulose-based fibrillar networks that can achieve extremely high scattering efficiency using low refractive index components. Believing that such a novel class of biocompatible materials can replace traditional scattering enhancers in pigment formulations and coatings, the project will deliver safer and more sustainable products.