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PFAS-free cellulose-based membranes for green applications

Materna, Kelly ; Lander, Sanna ; Avci, Ahmet Halil LU and Lipnizki, Frank LU orcid (2024) Euromembrane 2024 p.219-219
Abstract
Introduction.
Cellfion is a company developing PFAS-free membranes based on chemically functionalized nanocellulose. The membranes are highly tuneable and exhibit favourable properties such as high selectivity, low resistance and low swelling. Cellfion’s membranes have shown potential for use in different applications such as electrodialysis, fuel cells, electrolyzers, humidification systems and flow batteries. Cellfion’s membranes are a sustainable, completely PFAS-free alternative to traditional selective membranes.

Experimental/methodology.
Cellfion’s membranes are based on nanocellulose extracted from bleached softwood fibres, and are produced in a process similar to papermaking, which we have... (More)
Introduction.
Cellfion is a company developing PFAS-free membranes based on chemically functionalized nanocellulose. The membranes are highly tuneable and exhibit favourable properties such as high selectivity, low resistance and low swelling. Cellfion’s membranes have shown potential for use in different applications such as electrodialysis, fuel cells, electrolyzers, humidification systems and flow batteries. Cellfion’s membranes are a sustainable, completely PFAS-free alternative to traditional selective membranes.

Experimental/methodology.
Cellfion’s membranes are based on nanocellulose extracted from bleached softwood fibres, and are produced in a process similar to papermaking, which we have developed in our labs in Stockholm. The chemical modifications are done on the cellulose fibres, which are thereafter processed via high-pressure homogenization to liberate the cellulose nanofibrils. The nanofibrils contain functional groups on their surface, the type and amount of functionalization is controlled by the initial chemical process
step. The nanofibril dispersion is converted into membrane form. The membrane properties can also be enhanced via additives and/or post-modifications. Membranes are characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to determine their resistivity, and their selectivity is determined via membrane potential measurements. Membranes have been tested for electrodialysis for desalination of water, for both organic and inorganic flow batteries as well as for fuel cells and electrolyzers.

Results and discussion.
Cellfion’s membranes have been characterized by several methods including electrochemical measurements to determine resistivity and selectivity. Membranes show low resistivity and high selectivity towards sodium, potassium, ammonium and lithium ions as well as protons. Crosslinked membranes exhibit low swelling in the Z-direction. Afterwards, membranes have been evaluated for use in different electrochemical applications. Tuning the membrane properties to make them suitable for a variety of applications can be done via the type and degree of chemical modification of the starting material or by
post-modifications of the membranes. Using these strategies Cellfion has developed membranes that show promise for use in systems such as electrodialysis, proton exchange membrane fuel cells, redox flow batteries, and electrolyzers. Specifically, membranes tested for desalination of salt water have shown similar rates of desalination to standard commercial membranes. Work is ongoing to further develop and optimize the membranes into products for the applications listed above.

Acknowledgments
We thank our collaborators, financial partners and investors: Lund University, EIC Accelerator, Swedish Energy Agency,
Vinnova, Almi Greentech Invest, Voima Ventures, Klimatet Invest, and KTH Innovation, LiU Invest. (Less)
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type
Contribution to conference
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Membrane development, Cellulose, PFAS-free
pages
1 pages
conference name
Euromembrane 2024
conference location
Prague, Czech Republic
conference dates
2024-09-08 - 2024-09-12
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
beb7ebbe-3253-4040-9e84-788f5e6b622f
alternative location
https://euromembrane2024.cz/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Book-of-Abstracts-EuroMembrane2024-small-1.pdf
date added to LUP
2025-12-30 22:45:24
date last changed
2026-01-19 11:06:57
@misc{beb7ebbe-3253-4040-9e84-788f5e6b622f,
  abstract     = {{Introduction. <br/>Cellfion  is a company developing PFAS-free membranes based on chemically functionalized nanocellulose. The membranes are highly tuneable and exhibit favourable properties such as high selectivity, low resistance and low swelling. Cellfion’s membranes have shown potential for use in different applications such  as  electrodialysis,  fuel  cells,  electrolyzers,  humidification  systems  and  flow  batteries.  Cellfion’s membranes are a sustainable, completely PFAS-free alternative to traditional selective membranes. <br/> <br/>Experimental/methodology.  <br/>Cellfion’s membranes are based on nanocellulose extracted from bleached softwood fibres, and are produced in a process similar to papermaking, which we have developed in our labs in Stockholm. The chemical modifications are done on the cellulose fibres, which are thereafter processed via high-pressure homogenization  to  liberate  the  cellulose nanofibrils.  The nanofibrils  contain  functional groups on their surface, the type and amount of functionalization is controlled by the initial chemical process <br/>step. The nanofibril dispersion  is converted into membrane form. The membrane properties can  also be enhanced  via  additives  and/or  post-modifications.  Membranes  are  characterized  by  electrochemical impedance spectroscopy  to determine  their  resistivity, and  their  selectivity  is determined via membrane potential measurements. Membranes have been tested for electrodialysis for desalination of water, for both organic and inorganic flow batteries as well as for fuel cells and electrolyzers. <br/> <br/>Results  and  discussion.  <br/>Cellfion’s membranes have been characterized by several methods including electrochemical measurements to determine resistivity and selectivity. Membranes show low resistivity and high  selectivity  towards  sodium,  potassium,  ammonium  and  lithium  ions  as well  as  protons.  Crosslinked membranes exhibit low swelling in the Z-direction. Afterwards, membranes have been evaluated for use in different electrochemical applications. Tuning the membrane properties to make them suitable for a variety of applications can be done via the type and degree of chemical modification of the starting material or by <br/>post-modifications of the membranes. Using these strategies Cellfion has developed membranes that show promise  for  use  in  systems  such  as  electrodialysis,  proton  exchange  membrane  fuel  cells,  redox  flow batteries, and electrolyzers. Specifically, membranes tested for desalination of salt water have shown similar rates of desalination to standard commercial membranes. Work is ongoing to further develop and optimize the membranes into products for the applications listed above. <br/> <br/>Acknowledgments <br/>We thank our collaborators, financial partners and investors: Lund University, EIC Accelerator, Swedish Energy Agency, <br/>Vinnova, Almi Greentech Invest, Voima Ventures, Klimatet Invest,  and KTH Innovation, LiU Invest.}},
  author       = {{Materna, Kelly and Lander, Sanna and Avci, Ahmet Halil and Lipnizki, Frank}},
  keywords     = {{Membrane development; Cellulose; PFAS-free}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  pages        = {{219--219}},
  title        = {{PFAS-free cellulose-based membranes for green applications}},
  url          = {{https://euromembrane2024.cz/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Book-of-Abstracts-EuroMembrane2024-small-1.pdf}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}