The cellulose nanofi ber （CNF） which is produced by the Aqueous Counter Collision （ACC） method and named as “nanoforest” is suggested to have an amphiphilic fi ber surface expressing high affi nities for not only water but also oils in addition to general characteristics of CNFs such as light weight, high strength, and low linear thermal expansion.

This article explains from the production method and characteristics of nanoforest to the surface modifi cation eff ect and the emulsifi cation eff ect which utilize the amphiphilic characteristic of nanoforest.

Moreover, this article introduces an outline of the construction of pilot plants for a production of highfunctioning CNFs, which was released in May 2019, and two of products of those new plants, namely, “nanoforest–M”，which is a hydrophobized CNF, and “nanoforest–CMB”，which is a molded body made from 100％ CNF.

Cellulose nanofiber（CNF） is produced by fibrillating pulps to the nano-sized fibrils either through chemical or mechanical processes. It possesses interesting properties, such as high strength, high elastic modules, low thermal expansion, and thixotropy of the suspension. For these properties, it can be used for various applications, and is drawing great attention in recent years as a promising next-generation material. It is well known that CNF with a particular microfibril unit fineness and high aspect ratio can be obtained by firstly introducing either carboxylate or phosphate groups into cellulose, followed by gentle mechanical fibrillation with the help of the electrostatic repulsion and/or osmotic effects caused by those introduced anions.

Our company, Rengo, has been manufacturing cellophane from pulps for many years. Since cellulose xanthate, an intermediate product in the production process, is also an anionic cellulose derivative, we put our effort on this intermediate to make CNF. We found that xanthated cellulose nanofiber（XCNF） with a diameter of about 3-10 nm can be generated efficiently by maintaining the crystallinity of cellulose type I and controlling the degree of substitution to prevent the formed cellulose xanthate from dissolving in the solution through the fibrillation process. Such obtained XCNF can be easily converted（r egenerated） to a non-substituted cellulose nanofiber（RCNF） form by treating XCNF with either heat or acid. Although some agglomerates were observed, the diameter of RCNF is still in the range of a few nanometers. As a non-substituted CNF, our product is extremely small in diameter and with high transparency. Moreover, since it is cellulose, its heat resistance is close to that of pulps. Based on these characteristics, various applications are under development.

All–cellulose composites in which cellulose was adhered by dissolved cellulose were proposed in the mid–2000s and have shown good mechanical properties in laboratory scale. Although they have been considered as new materials, it is not certain that the processes can be applied for practical production. Vulcanized fibers use the same concept as the all–cellulose composites and are robust all–cellulosic materials in which cellulose micro fibers are adhered with cellulose nanofibers （CNFs）. They were invented in 1850s and still have been manufactured industrially. Recently a new composite material was created from carbon fibers and the vulcanized fibers. The materials were lightweight and showed better dimension stability even after exposure to a humid condition. This composite material based on carbon fibers and CNFs can compensate for the conventional shortcomings. Therefore, new development of CNFs is expected in the future.

Cellulose nanofibers（CNFs） are obtained from wood pulp by isolating crystalline microfibrils in which molecular chains of cellulose are regularly arranged. Since CNF is not only a sustainable natural resource but also has unique features, its multifaceted utilization is expected. By subjecting softwood bleached kraft pulp to phosphorylation and then mechanical treatment, the CNFs with phosphate groups on their crystal surface could individually be dispersed in water. The dispersion had unique rheological properties, and the phosphate groups provided stability in a wide pH range to the dispersion. These features emerge even when the fibers in the dispersion have broad distributions of width and length. The aqueous dispersion of phosphorylated CNF was commercialized as a thickening and dispersing agent for cosmetics, taking advantage of its high transparency, high viscosity and high dispersant ability. In addition, phosphorylated CNF was adopted for the pump primer to prevent concrete blockage in pumping pipe by forming a thin and uniform lubricating layer on the inner surface of the pipe at construction sites. Due to the rheological properties of the CNF, lubricating layer can be stably formed, and components in pump primer can be stably dispersed and the pump primer can adapt to pumping speed. Phosphorylated CNF with further modification can be dispersed in organic solvents. The CNF is provided in powder form and is dispersible in various organic solvents, and the dispersion has characteristics common to CNF aqueous dispersion. This CNF powder made it possible to study applications for use in non-aqueous solvents. On the other hand, we can manufacture CNF sheet from aqueous dispersion in which phosphorylated CNFs are individually dispersed. In addition to its high tensile strength, high thermal dimensional stability and flexibility, high-precision patterning on the CNF sheet had been succeeded. Its application to flexible electronic device is expected. We will further promote the utilization of phosphorylated CNF.

Cellulose Nano Fiber （CNF）, a recyclable new material made from woody biomass, has unique properties such as high aspect ratio, ultrafine width, crystalline structure, light weight, high elastic modulus and special rheological characteristics. CNF research and development has started in Japan around 2000, and more than 200 companies are developing their manufacturing technologies and applications supported by related govern mental ministries.

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. （NPI）, which started CNF R&D activities officially in 2007, are now operating two commercial CNF production facilities （TEMPO-oxidized CNF at Ishinomaki mill, CM-CNF at Gotsu mill） and one pilot facility （CNF-reinforced resin at Fuji mill）.

Metal ion attached TEMPO-oxidized CNF has been utilized for deodorant sheet, CM-CNF has been adopted for cosmetics as well as food such as Dorayaki（pancakes stuffed with red bean paste） by taking advantage of its rheological property and moisture control ability. We have been providing CNF-reinforced resin for Nano Cellulose Vehicle project funded by Ministry of the Environment which is aiming for weight saving automotive parts.

CNF is abundant biomass material on earth and also it has wide variety of unique properties which are unassociated each other. This allows the CNF to have potential to be used in every possible area. We believe that in near future, the world is to come in which we go like “Look, CNF is all around us !”.

However we recognize there are some hurdles to overcome for early realization of it.

To solve it, mass production technology, established CNF modifying technology suitable for its application, and application development by collaborating with related companies and organizations are important.

It is our responsibility as a pulp and paper company to promote practical realization and expanding market of CNF.

Tubes in various boilers such as super heaters, in–bed tubes, and connecting tubes is in a severe corrosive environment like the furnace wall. Our company has established a corrosion and erosion–resistant wear construction method by welding all around the outer surface of a tube exceeding 8 m, and has developed a device that has cleared the problems of equipment size, rigidity, cost, etc. Normally, when welding the outer surface of such a tube, it is necessary to cool the inside of the tube with cooling water in order to prevent meltdown and deformation of the tube due to welding heat.

In this report, focused on the cooling water and conducted experiments by adding Ultra Fine Bubbles, which have been applied and used in the fields of fisheries industry, industry, agriculture, medicine, etc., to the cooling water in recent years. In result, it was able to be developed a cooling system that reduced the amount of deformation and shrinkage of the tube.

Business for rotational equipment has been changing from transactional to performance based solution.

Due to the repeated earthquakes and big storms, damages to the people and structures are frequently happening recently. Traditionally hard type epoxy linings and FRP linings have been used for the protection of metallic and concrete structures of plant facilities due to their cost and performance. However, while hard type lining materials have advantages of strength and chemical resistance performance they do not have the elasticity due to which cracks tend to occur frequently if the those linings are applied to hard substrates like concrete. Therefore, wish to explain the merits of using polyurea resin for the lining for its favorable features and properties that have both strength and elasticity.

PaperCon2019 was held in Indianapolis, USA on May 5–8, 2019 hosted by TAPPI（Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry）．There were 11 sessions and over 200 lectures in the conference. We report on summary of 10 presentations and some topics.

The ability to identify odors, or sense of smell, varies among people. An odor that is viewed as unpleasant by some people cannot be perceived unpleasant by others. Due to its subjective evaluation, it was very diffi cult to properly control odors and taking countermeasures to eliminate them has remained a major issue for pulp and paper mills. The problems associated with odors have been greatly improved by the Off ensive Odor Control Law that defi ned the off ensive odor as pollution and established the regulation standards. However, off ensive odors that are not completely removed can still arise from factories, adversely aff ecting not only residents in the neighborhood, but also operability of machines, productivity and quality of products, and effi ciency and safety of workers. In this report, we will identify the cause of odors released from pulping and papermaking processes, propose eff ective chemical approaches to remove them and fi nd the solution for paper quality improvement and stable operation.