Pre-Conference Webinars
The WOW pre-conference webinars are intended to bring the industry together before the live event, as a new place to gain content and get your questions answered.
All industry professionals are welcome to view the live webinars at no cost. Recordings of both webinars will be made available ONLY to full conference registrants.
Advanced Cellulosic Solution for Disinfection Wipes
Axel Russler, Ph.D., Project Manager, Lenzing AG
Tuesday | July 15 | 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM EDT
Disinfection wipes are typically made from nonwoven synthetic fibers like polypropylene and polyester, ensuring strength, flexibility, and controlled moisture release for effective cleaning. A key factor is achieving durability while maintaining softness and absorbency. With rising environmental concerns, there's a shift towards environmentally-responsible cellulosic alternatives to mitigate microplastic problem. However, cellulose fibers, though eco-friendly, pose technical challenges: they absorb more liquid, reducing cleaning solution release, may weaken disinfection efficacy, and have lower wet strength, compromising durability.
Lenzing has developed an advanced cellulosic solution which can effectively address these challenges. Central to this approach is a specially designed Lyocell fiber, optimized for disinfection applications. These fibers not only deliver superior wet strength and durability compared to regular viscose but are also manufactured with a special profile that enhances the wiping performance. This design facilitates a consistent and increased release of disinfection agents, overcoming the typical adhesion issues associated with cellulosic fibers.
This presentation will detail our research and development process, highlighting experimental results and scalability potential. Our work represents a significant advancement in the nonwoven industry, offering a sustainable, high-performance alternative to traditional synthetic wipes, and paving the way for environmentally responsible disinfection solutions.
Industry Expert: Axel Russler, Ph.D.
Project Manager, Lenzing AG
Axel Russler studied wood science and technology at the University of Hamburg, where he completed his doctorate on a viscose fiber topic in cooperation with the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU).
Over the past twenty years, he has held various positions in the cellulose fiber industry and related academia.
Axel Russler has been with Lenzing AG since 2016 and works mainly on fiber innovations fornonwovens and technical products.