Nanocellulose and Sustainability

Dr Koon-Yang Lee (KYL) is a currently a Lecturer in Composites Manufacturing in the Department of Aeronautics, Imperial College London (ICL). His work focuses on the manufacturing and development of novel cellulose-based polymer composites with a focus on tailoring the interface between two (or more) phases to bridge the gap between chemistry, materials science and engineering. Prior to this appointment, he was a lecturer at the Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London. Earlier, he worked as a senior post-doctoral fellow (Habilitant) at the Institute for Materials Chemistry and Research, University of Vienna and prior to this, as a post-doctoral research associate in the Department of Chemical Engineering, ICL (seconded to a carbon fibre multi-axial producer, Formax UK, recently acquired by Hexcel).Dr Lee currently has one national phase patent application in the US and Europe (US2013273350/EP2627816), and (co-)authored 31 peer-reviewed journal articles (incl. Green Chem – highlighted on the journal cover and Comp. Sci. Tech. – the top ranked composites journal), 7 invited book chapters and 4 confidential industrial technical reports for Cytec Engineered Materials UK and Mondelez International. His expertise are in the manufacturing of cellulose (nano)composites, hierarchical composites, polymer foams and lifecycle assessment of composite materials. His work has been recognised for excellence with the Dudley-Newitt Prize (2012) awarded by ICL and Student Achievement Award (2011), awarded by the BioEnvironmental Polymer Society (BEPS). KYL is currently an associate editor of the Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy. His research is supported by various UK Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) grants.

• Process Modelling and Techno-Economic Evaluation of an Industrial Airlift Bacterial Cellulose Fermentation Process. Production of Cellulose Nanofibres. Preparation of Cellulose Nanocrystals: Background, Conventions and New Developments. Oxidative Chemistry in Preparation and Modification on Cellulose Nanoparticles. Crystallinity and Thermal Stability of Nanocellulose. Crucial Interfacial Features of Nanocellulose Materials. Nanocellulose-Based Membranes for Water Purification: Fundamental Concepts and Scale-Up Potential. Applications of Nanocellulose as Optically Transparent Papers and Composites. Application of Nanocellulose as Pickering Emulsifier. Upgrading the Properties of Woven and Non-Woven (Ligno)Cellulosic Fibre Preforms with Nanocellulose. Cellulose-Based Aerogels. Production of Cellulose Nanocrystals at InnoTech Alberta. Index.