Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd., the technology transfer arm of the Hebrew University, has signed a licensing agreement with Melodea Ltd. for the further development and commercialization of a novel method for producing Micro-Crystalline Cellulose (MCC) from paper mill waste. The MCCs are then processed into micro-structured foams, which can replace fossil fuel-based foams in a vast variety of applications. The novel technology was developed by Professor Oded Shoseyov and Dr. Shaul Lapidot from the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and co-founders of Melodea together with Mr. Tord Gustafsson a Swedish composite material expert.
In parallel, Holmen has entered into an investment and sub-licensing agreement with Melodea, by which Holmen has become one of the major shareholders in Melodea.
MCC is produced by processing wood pulp, and is considered the new, environmentally-friendly and sustainable option for a variety of materials, including plastic and metal. MCC is transparent, strong, cost-effective, and safer than non-organic alternatives. During the process of paper production, around 30% of the total fibers initially produced are washed as sludge.
In Europe alone, eleven million tons of waste is produced annually. The scientists found that fibers from paper mill sludge are a perfect source for MCC production, and have also developed a method of processing MCC into micro-structured foams. These MCC foams 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.
Prof Oded Shoseyov, co-founder and board member of Melodea, said:
"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. Our team not only developed a way to produce MCC in a cost-effective manner from waste products of the paper industry, but has also invented a method for processing this promising material into foam, which is used in the composite industry as a core material in sandwich panels to achieve high strength, weight reduction, energy dissipation, and insulation."
