Filmbiocel

Target audience

Companies interested in replacing plastics with more natural and sustainable products.

Project objective

To develop advanced materials from natural polymers obtained from plant biomass that provide good barrier and mechanical properties.

1. Define and evaluate the effects of composition, morphology, functional mechanical pretreatments, and chemical and enzymatic treatments of cellulose fibres on improving efficiency and properties in the production of films with barrier properties;
2. Develop formulations based on cellulose derivatives (DvC), such as carboxymethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate, suitable for film production;
3. Optimise the production of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) suspensions to improve process yield;
4. Analyse different film or composite manufacturing strategies to obtain advanced materials with improved functional properties;
5. Evaluate the coating of cellulose substrates using biofilms made from DvC and NCC, with the aim of developing advanced multilayer materials;
6. Analyse the biodegradability and printability of the films and composites produced.

Project description

Social awareness of climate change and the need to improve the efficiency of renewable resource use is growing. Indeed, one of the main public concerns relates to petroleum-based materials because of their negative environmental impact and unsustainable life cycle.

The use of polymers derived from plant biomass appears to be an excellent option that is more environmentally friendly, sustainable and biodegradable.

Industrial technologies with significant potential, such as nanotechnology and biotechnology, can be used to create multifunctional materials from these plant-based biopolymers. The possibility of chemically and/or biotechnologically modifying these new cellulosic films is also being investigated.

This project focuses on:

- the use of renewable resources as raw materials for film production, replacing resources affected by availability issues;

• The design of multifunctional materials with advanced properties through nanotechnology.
• The use of enabling technologies such as biotechnology to obtain innovative, high-value-added products.
• The development of new, more sustainable and environmentally friendly materials offering good mechanical and barrier properties.
• The development of new biodegradable films from renewable resources.
• The manufacture of versatile materials for use across different industrial sectors.

Impact

The expected results are:

a) the production of DvC and NCC biofilms through combination and/or assembly strategies;

b) the production of multilayer sheet products by coating different cellulosic materials;

c) the development of multifunctional materials that are biodegradable and have barrier properties;

d) Identification of the effects of composition, morphology and advanced functional pretreatments of cellulose on the production of films and/or composites.

It is worth highlighting that these developments and cross-cutting results could have a significant impact on both the environment and industry.