CelluComp
CelluComp is a material science company producing Curran® - a nano-fibre
product made from agri-food waste streams from root crop. As a mechanical
enhancer with thickening properties, this product can be used to improve
properties in many different products, such as paints & coatings and concrete.
Process
At present, the main feedstock is
sugar beet pulp, a by-product of
sugar processing commonly used for
animal feeds. Curran® is produced
from this renewable feedstock using
Zero Waste Scotland:
green chemistry processes including
Background
water-based
reactions
at
low
Founded by material scientists Dr
temperatures and pressures which
David Hepworth and Dr Eric Whale,
maximise the energy efficiency of the
CelluComp produces a product called
manufacturing process.
Curran® (Gaelic for carrot), which
Image copyright: CelluComp
makes use of nano-fibres contained
As a result, Curran® has lower unit
processing as
within food processing by-products
energy consumption than that of
we do not want our feedstocks
including root vegetables and sugar
other paint thickeners and reduces
to compete with land for growing
beet. CelluComp operates a small
the
food.”
scale production facility in Glenrothes.
food processing residues. Curran®
Dr Eric Whale, Co-Founder
Operational
2015,
is produced as a granulated product
production looks set to expand.
powder alongside residues which are
Facilities of this size could be
high in sugars and polysaccharides.
replicated all over the world and co-
CelluComp
located with feedstock providers such
options to develop further products
as sugar processors or with Curran®
from these residues ranging from
users e.g. paint manufacturers.
animal feeds to commodity chemicals.
“We want to be as sustainable as
possible and Curran® is produced
using green chemistry processes.
We only use by-products and
residues from agriculture and food
NOTE WRITTEN BY
Zero Waste Scotland
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Zero Waste Scotland
22 FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk
since
March
environmental
is
impact
currently
from
exploring
Zero Waste Scotland supports the development of circular economy systems,
models and products. For information on the support available, contact the
Circular Economy team on [email protected].
cellucomp.com