I-Corps: Translation Potential of a Bio-Based Nanocellulose Aerogel for Hygiene Products

Award ID: 2638616

This I-Corps project is based on the development of a plant-based absorbent material designed to replace synthetic polymers used in disposable hygiene products. Disposable diapers, menstrual pads, and adult incontinence products have an absorbent core made from superabsorbent polymers that do not biodegrade. Tightening regulation and rising demand for biodegradable materials have left manufacturers searching for alternatives that match current performance and cost. This material is an ultralight, highly porous foam-like material made from wood pulp, cotton, and a natural biopolymer recovered from crustacean processing byproducts. It absorbs more fluid than commercial absorbent cores currently on the market while remaining fully biodegradable. The same material platform also shows promise in thermal insulation, flame-resistant textiles, filtration, and energy storage, potentially broadening its contribution to reducing plastic waste. This I-Corps project utilizes experiential learning coupled with first-hand investigation of the industry ecosystem to assess the translation potential of a chitosan and nanofibrillated cellulose composite aerogel engineered as a biodegradable absorbent core. The material is produced by a solvent-lean, scalable process in which a bio-based aqueous slurry is homogenized under high pressure to form a uniform hydrogel, then frozen and freeze-dried to yield an open porous network. The resulting aerogel is ultralow density, high porosity, and has a mesoporous structure with pore sizes near 8 nanometers. Optimized formulations absorb approximately 50 grams of saline solution per gram of material and retain roughly 90 percent of that capacity under applied load, exceeding the best commercial absorbent cores tested by a factor of about 2.7. The material derives entirely from renewable feedstocks and degrades in soil, which may offer a drop-in replacement absorbent core without the persistence and end-of-life burden of synthetic alternatives. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Program Director: Ruth Shuman