PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • January 17, 2025
A University of Maine researcher, James Anderson, was exploring the capabilities of sawdust that, when ground down to a microscopic level, turns into a watery goo. He realized the material — known as cellulose nanofiber or biogel — had all the right qualities to be an effective fire extinguisher. What if the solution to fighting fires was using the same material that was burning? The cellulose nanofiber quickly put out flames, stuck to surfaces for a long time, was much better than water at preventing fires from reigniting and is completely natural – free of toxins or forever chemicals called PFAS that harm people and the environment. Now, Maine is the No. 1 global public supplier of the material. But getting it certified will take time and money.