Nanocellulose: relationship between fundamentals and applications (8 ECTS)

Schedule: 20-24 August 2018 in Helsinki Congress Paasitorni

Nanocellulose is gradually reaching scientific maturity as well as industrial status. Simultaneously, within the past 15 years, research on fundamental structure and behaviour of cellulose has undergone significant advances. This course offers a unique perspective in linking these two disciplines. It addresses issues such as bottlenecks in nanocellulose production or difficulties in composite preparation but it does so from the fundamental perspective of structural and physico-chemical details. In terms of contents, the course addresses the basic structure of cellulose: molecular and supramolecular structure, crystalline forms, microfibril morphology, chemical reactivity, and structure-property relationship. Importantly, the fundamental issues with physics and chemistry are linked to application-related questions and challenges, such as nanocellulose production or composite preparation.

Course outline

School: Chemical Engineering, Aalto University

Department: Bioproducts and Biosystems

Level of study: Postgraduate

Participants: PhD students, postdocs, industrial chemists

Pre-requirements: Master's degree in chemistry, material science, chemical engineering with some pre-knowledge in polymer chemistry

ECTS: 8

Responsible professor: Eero Kontturi (eero.kontturi [at] aalto [dot] fi)

Course schedule

Preliminary schedule of the course:

Intended learning outcomes

- Master the fine details of supramolecular structure of cellulose: crystalline forms and crystallinity

- Possess a state-of-the-art vision on the morphology of cellulose microfibril

- Have a comprehensive knowledge on methods to prepare all types nanocellulose

- Tell what are the bottlenecks in nanocellulose preparation in view of its fundamental structure

- Understand the behaviour of nanocellulose with respect to its fundamental structure and its applications

- List and comprehend the ways to characterize nanocellulose for each relevant purpose

- Be knowledgeable about the pathways and pragmatic challenges in modifying nanocellulose

- Possess a comprehensive view on nanocellulose applications, both technical and high-end

- Realise what the bottleneck in each application is from both a fundamental and a practical perspective

- Understand the structure-property relationship of nanocellulose-based materials

Assessment

Group work (presented on the final day)

There is no examination for the course but the groups will have to deliver an extensive, written literature review based on their group work. The review will be due on early September.

Photo: Nina Riutta

Lecturers

Eero Kontturi, Orlando Rojas and Olli Ikkala, Aalto University

Alistair King, Helsinki University

Stefan Spirk, TU Graz

Koon-Yang Lee, Imperial College London

Tekla Tammelin, VTT

Orlando Rojas, Aalto University

Olli Ikkala, Aalto University

Registration and fees

Registration for the course CHEM-LV, Nanocellulose: Relationship Between Fundamentals And Applications:

PhD students from Aalto University: WebOodi

PhD students from other universities in Finland: Joopas

PhD students from other universities abroad: Fill in the form 506 (Application for the right to pursue non graduate studies) and return to doctoral-chem [at] aalto [dot] fi

Other participants: by email to doctoral-chem [at] aalto [dot] fi

NB: The course is full and the registration has been closed in WebOodi. Applications that will be received between July 20th and August 3rd, will be processed in the order of date of submission.

Fees

The course is free to full-time PhD students (excluding accommodation and traveling costs).

The course fee of 750 € (incl. VAT) will be charged from other participants. The fee includes course materials, meals during the course (breakfast, lunch and afternoon coffee) and the course dinner on Wed 22 August at 7 pm in restaurant Meripaviljonki.

Accommodation

Scandic Paasi offers rooms for the special price for course participants (single room: 128 €/night, double room: 148 €/night). Rooms can be booked through the booking link. The number of rooms is limited.

There are also plenty of other hotels nearby the course venue.