A new study published in The Journal of Cleaner Production explores an unexpected solution to two persistent problems: the need for more sustainable manufacturing materials and the growing challenge of managing animal waste. Scientists from University College London (UCL) have developed a method to produce cellulose—an essential component in a wide array of products—from cow dung, using a technique they call “horizontal nozzle-pressurised spinning.”
This development marks the first time cellulose suitable for manufacturing has been successfully derived from animal waste. While cellulose has traditionally come from plant sources or has been chemically produced—often involving harsh processes—this new approach offers a cleaner and potentially cheaper method.
An Unlikely Resource for an Everyday Material
Cellulose is a key ingredient in countless products, from food and pharmaceuticals to textiles, paper goods, and even surgical masks. Though plant-derived, extracting it for industrial use often involves synthetic methods and the use of toxic chemicals. This has raised concerns about cost, safety, and environmental impact.
What the UCL researchers propose is a significant departure from that. Their method begins with cow manure, a substance most commonly viewed as waste or fertilizer. Because cows are herbivores, their dung contains tiny cellulose fragments from the plants they consume. Extracting these fragments is relatively straightforward, involving mild chemical reactions and homogenisation to produce a usable solution.
“Our initial question was whether it could be possible to extract the tiny fragments of cellulose present in cow manure, which is left over from the plants the animals have eaten, and fashion it into manufacturing-grade cellulose materials,” said Professor Mohan Edirisinghe, the senior author of the study. The extracted solution was then processed using a unique manufacturing technology—pressurised spinning. But at first, it didn’t work as planned.
From Failed Trials to Functional Fibres
Initially, the team faced technical challenges trying to produce fibres from the cow dung solution using traditional pressurised spinning techniques. The breakthrough came when they reconfigured the machinery.
“By a process of trial and error, we figured out that using a horizontal rather than a vertical vessel containing surface nozzles and injecting the jet of liquid into still or flowing water caused cellulose fibres to form,” Professor Edirisinghe explained. “We were then able to change the consistency of the liquid to create other forms, such as meshes, films and ribbons, each of which have different manufacturing applications.”
Although the precise scientific reason why this horizontal spinning works so effectively is still unclear, the researchers emphasize that what matters most is that the method works—and is reproducible.
“We’re still not quite sure why the process works, but the important thing is that it does. It will also be fairly easy to scale up using existing pressurised spinning technology, the vessels for which were designed and built in the UCL Mechanical Engineering workshop,” he added.
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Clean Process, Cleaner Results
Unlike fibre production methods such as electrospinning—which require high voltages—this horizontal nozzle-pressurised spinning process is energy efficient. This feature could help reduce the environmental burden of producing synthetic fibres.
Modifying current pressurised spinning machines to suit this new horizontal configuration should be feasible, according to the research team. However, the larger challenge may lie in collecting, transporting, and processing cow dung on a commercial scale. Nevertheless, the potential rewards—both environmental and financial—could make those logistical hurdles worthwhile.
Dairy farmers, in particular, stand to benefit. Cow manure, though often used as fertilizer, is also a major environmental concern. If not managed correctly, it can pollute waterways, release greenhouse gases, and spread pathogens.
“Dairy farm waste such as cow manure is a threat to the environment and humans, especially through waterway pollution, the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere when it decomposes, and the spread of pathogens. It is also often a burden on farmers to dispose of properly,” said Ms Yanqi Dai, first author of the study from UCL Mechanical Engineering.
She believes the new technique could offer dairy farmers a valuable way to turn waste into something useful. “Horizontal nozzle-pressurised spinning could be a huge boost to the global dairy farming industry, by putting this problematic waste product to good use and perhaps creating a new source of income.”
Traditional Uses of Cow Dung in India
The findings of the UCL study take on particular relevance in countries like India, where cow dung has long played an important cultural and practical role. In rural areas, it is traditionally used as a natural fertilizer and fuel. Dried cow dung cakes are widely used for cooking and heating, especially in villages that have limited access to clean energy sources.
In addition to its role in agriculture and domestic energy, cow dung is often applied to walls and floors of rural homes to act as an insulator and insect repellent. It is believed to have antibacterial properties, and its application is part of various rituals and customs. For centuries, rural households have relied on it as a low-cost, locally available material.
More recently, the Indian government and private enterprises have also been encouraging the use of cow dung in biogas plants. These systems convert organic waste into methane-rich gas that can be used for electricity, heating, or as a cooking fuel, while producing nutrient-rich slurry that can return to fields as compost.
Despite these diverse uses, India still faces a surplus of animal waste due to its large cattle population. Much of this waste, if not properly managed, ends up contaminating water bodies or contributing to air pollution, particularly in regions where burning of dung cakes is common.
The UCL study offers a new perspective: one where this abundant resource might serve as a raw material in industrial production, beyond its traditional uses. If adapted and scaled in India, it could offer an additional stream of income for rural farmers and help manage waste more sustainably.
Turning a Growing Waste Problem into a Resource
The world is producing more animal waste than ever before. A 2019 study estimated that between 2003 and 2030, global animal waste would increase by 40%, reaching at least five billion tons. Many farms already produce more manure than can be legally or effectively used as fertilizer, leaving a surplus that often ends up in rivers, lakes, or coastal waters—where it can damage ecosystems and pose health risks to humans.
The UCL team sees their method as part of a broader effort to adopt circular economy principles. These principles prioritize minimizing waste and pollution by reusing materials in new ways.
By extracting value from a material long considered a liability, the researchers hope to offer both an environmental benefit and a practical, scalable manufacturing solution. They are currently exploring partnerships with dairy farmers to test the system on a larger scale and better understand its commercial viability.
The study was supported by grants from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which funded the core research into pressurised spinning technology at UCL. Though the science is still in its early stages, the potential applications for the cow-dung-derived cellulose are broad and varied—spanning industries from packaging to medicine.
Whether this new technique will find a place in mainstream manufacturing depends on future collaborations and refinements. But for now, the research offers a glimpse into how unconventional ideas—like spinning fibres from manure—could help address some of the most pressing challenges in industry and agriculture alike.
