Australian researchers develop sustainable method to produce graphene from agricultural waste using vortex fluidic device

Researchers in Australia have demonstrated a low‑impact route to produce high‑quality graphene from agricultural cellulose, a development that could lower costs and the environmental footprint of materials used in energy storage and other industrial applications.

According to a James Cook University news release, the team converted nanocellulose sourced from woody biomass into biochar via slow pyrolysis at 500–800 °C, then processed that biochar in a vortex fluidic device (VFD) using only water as the solvent. A paper describing the work was published in the journal Small Structures in January 2026; an earlier version of the study appeared in December 2025 in research repositories. The authors say this is the first demonstration of transforming biochar produced under mild pyrolysis conditions below 900 °C into graphene without added chemicals or catalysts.

Yu Matsueda, the study’s first author and a PhD candidate at James Cook University, described the VFD’s role in controlling the exfoliation process: “The VFD rotates at very high speed, allowing us to really control the way fluids move inside the device … thus we can control the layers of graphene formed from the initial biochar,” he said. He added that using water as a processing medium is a more sustainable alternative to conventional routes. “The graphene we produced was, in fact, very similar to what other people are obtaining from non-renewable resources,” Matsueda said.

Characterisation reported by the authors indicates that specific surface area, morphology and surface functional groups of the nanocellulose‑derived biochar strongly influence its conversion and subsequent exfoliation into graphene. The group optimised VFD operating parameters to increase yield and favour production of few‑layer graphene suitable for advanced applications.

Industry observers note the work builds on a body of research and commercial activity around the vortex fluidic device. Flinders University and collaborators have for years promoted the VFD as a high‑shear, thin‑film processing platform capable of producing graphene and other carbon nanomaterials without toxic reagents. Flinders has pursued patent protection for aspects of VFD thin‑film processing and has been involved in ventures aimed at scaling the technology; First Graphene and the spin‑out 2D Fluidics Pty Ltd have been linked to commercialisation efforts.

For businesses focused on industrial decarbonisation, the approach offers two attractive propositions. First, substituting fossil‑derived graphite feedstocks with lignocellulosic residues such as sugarcane fibre would reduce upstream carbon intensity and support circular‑economy aims. Second, a water‑based, catalyst‑free process could simplify regulatory and waste‑management burdens while lowering solvent‑related costs. According to the James Cook University release, potential end uses include components for batteries, electronics and reinforced composites, sectors where graphene’s conductivity and mechanical properties can directly improve energy efficiency and material performance.

Challenges remain before widespread industrial adoption. Scaling lab‑scale VFD processing to volumes required by battery and composite manufacturers will demand engineering work to maintain product consistency and throughput. Economic viability will hinge on overall yields, energy consumption of the pyrolysis step and integration with bioproduct supply chains. The authors acknowledge these scale and supply considerations while arguing that their route provides a credible pathway to produce graphene from renewable feedstocks at lower cost and environmental impact than many traditional methods.

The study underscores growing interest in greener production methods for advanced materials and suggests that coupling biomass valorisation with innovative fluidic processing could play a role in decarbonising material supply chains. Industry data show demand for low‑carbon, high‑performance materials is rising as manufacturers seek to meet emissions targets and improve lifecycle performance; converting agricultural residues into graphene would align with those priorities if technical and commercial hurdles can be resolved.