GranBio Technologies, an American subsidiary of Brazil-headed biotechnology process, biofuels and biochemical provider GranBio Investimentos S.A, has announced that it has entered into a partnership with global carbon black major Birla Carbon, part of India-headed industry conglomerate Aditya Birla Group to supply a nanocellulose compound to the tyre and rubber industry, replacing fossil-derived carbon black.
Called the nanocellulose dispersion compound (NDC), the product started to be developed three years ago by the US company American Process Inc. – acquired by GranBio in March 2019 – together with Birla Carbon. Patent registration is still pending.
Research carried out by the two companies produced nanocellulose that does not absorb water, thus overcoming the main technological challenge of using the biomass derivative for application in rubber.
According to GranBio’s new CEO, Paulo Nigro, in addition to being a renewable alternative to products currently used in the rubber industry, the jointly developed nanocelluose dispersion compound also enhances tyre performance, reducing the rolling resistance by up to 30 percent, which can make vehicles more fuel-efficient.
The tire industry accounts for about 70 percent of global carbon black consumption. Birla Carbon is one of the largest carbon black suppliers in the world. It has 16 factories in 12 countries and two technology centers, one in the United States and the other in India.
