Murim P&P Develops Cellulose-Based Antifreeze Agent... Expands Advanced Materials Business

MOU Signed with the Rural Development Administration and Gyeongsang National University

Murim P&P is launching the development of eco-friendly agricultural materials utilizing cellulose, a novel natural pulp-based material. By expanding the scope of natural pulp-based materials beyond pharmaceuticals and bio into the agricultural sector, the company is accelerating efforts to secure future growth engines.

Antifreeze agents are agricultural new materials that form a thin protective film on the surface of fruit tree flower buds to protect the flowers from cold. Amid the increasing cold damage to fruit tree flower buds due to the recent climate crisis, they are expected to attract attention as a new climate change response technology to prevent such damage. Murim Group

On July 24, Murim P&P announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Rural Development Administration's National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science and Gyeongsang National University to jointly develop an eco-friendly antifreeze agent applying nanocellulose (CNF) extracted from natural pulp.

The antifreeze agent is a novel agricultural material that forms a thin protective film on the surface of fruit tree flower buds, reducing cold damage. With abnormal low temperatures in spring becoming more frequent due to climate change, resulting in greater losses for fruit farmers, this technology is drawing attention as a preventive solution.

This product will feature nanocellulose extracted from natural pulp, which Murim P&P is the only company in Korea to produce domestically. Nanocellulose is an eco-friendly advanced material made by breaking down cellulose fibers to nanometer (nm) sizes, offering excellent thermal insulation and durability, making it highly effective in protecting fruit tree flower buds even in low-temperature environments.

Murim P&P expects that, if commercialized, this antifreeze agent containing nanocellulose could reduce cold damage for fruit farmers by up to 20% compared to existing solutions.

Moorim P&P signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on July 21 with the Rural Development Administration’s National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science and Gyeongsang National University to develop an eco-friendly antifreeze agent using natural pulp-based cellulose (from left: Yoon Soohyun, Head of the Horticultural Crops Division at the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science; Lee Yongbok, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Gyeongsang National University; Lim Gun, Head of Research at Moorim). Moorim Group

The three institutions plan to establish a collaborative system spanning from research and development, demonstration trials, and performance verification to mass production and technology dissemination, aiming for successful commercialization.

Murim P&P will take charge of supplying raw materials, product development, and mass production, leveraging its status as the largest cellulose production facility in Korea. The National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science will conduct demonstration trials and technology dissemination among fruit farmers, while Gyeongsang National University will undertake research, including performance verification and data acquisition.

Industry insiders anticipate that, with this agreement, Murim P&P will further diversify its pulp-based advanced materials business beyond paper and pulp manufacturing. Following its moves into eco-friendly paints and cosmetic moisturizers in the pharmaceutical and bio sector, the company is now expanding its business into eco-friendly agricultural materials.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.