Correction to: Evaluation of properties and specific energy consumption of spinifex-derived lignocellulose fibers produced using different mechanical processes

Due to an equipment error, the values for the energy consumption of samples which were subjected to the milling process (presented in Table 2) are incorrect in the original publication. The value for sample M-20 is 20.2 kWh/kg and for sample M-40 is 33.2 kWh/kg. Those corrections will respectively affect values for other ‘‘dual processed’’ samples, which have been extruded and then milled, i.e., X-M samples, as the energy of these is the sum of energies for combined extrusion and milling processes. Finally, as a conclusion for this aspect of the publication, it should be (Table presented.) noted that the milling process is less energy intensive compared to high-pressure homogenization. The correct version of Table 2 is provided in this article

Evaluation of properties and specific energy consumption of spinifex-derived lignocellulose fibers produced using different mechanical processes

Abstract: The increasing global demand for sustainable materials has drawn academic and industrial attention towards lignocellulosic resources. One emerging non-wood source is Australian spinifex arid grass. Exploration of this unique resource is particularly important due to its abundance, extreme drought-tolerance, renewability, and low cost. In this study, mild-alkali treated spinifex grass was subjected to twin-screw extrusion (TSE), high-energy ball milling (HEBM), and high-pressure homogenization (HPH) in order to fibrillate the material into cellulose microfibers (MFC) and nanofibers (CNF). Transmission electron microscopy images confirmed that at least a substantive proportion of CNF is produced by all processes. The overall network density in the confocal laser scanning microscopy images correlated with the normalized light transmittance of the handsheets. The normalized transmittance data suggested that HPH and HEBM produce a high proportion of CNF, as the handsheets made from the material obtained by those methods exhibited translucency. The opacity and relatively low mechanical properties of the handsheets made from the TSE processed fibers suggested a high proportion of MFC present in the treated pulp. However, TSE was found to be the lowest-energy consuming process, making it an attractive fibrillation process. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]