Nano- and micro-fibrillated cellulose obtained from an industrial residue and their application in packaging materials

• Grant number: 15/23478-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: January 20, 2016
• End date: March 29, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Anna Lucia Mourad
• Grantee: Anna Lucia Mourad
• Host Investigator: M. Naceur Belgacem
• Host Institution: Instituto de Tecnologia de Alimentos (ITAL). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Université de Grenoble, France

Abstract

Faced with the current necessities to reduce environmental impacts caused by anthropogenic actions, the scientific community has been trying to maximize the use of already existent byproducts and residues while at the same time searching for renewable resources in order to develop alternative materials to those produced at the moment from non-renewable resource origins. In the Kraft production process some residues appear which, due to their dimensional characteristics, are not retained, have low economic value, and in most cases, after pre-treatment, are returned to the forests. This work, which is the proponent´s post-doctoral project, aims to initially characterize this residue under the aspects of composition and morphology in Brazil. Subsequent valuation of the waste by producing nano- and micro- fibrils of cellulose and their incorporation into packaging materials will be developed in the Laboratoire de Genie des Procédés Papetiers (LGP2 - UMR 5518) in France. The mechanical strength and barrier characteristics of the composite materials obtained will be measured in Brazil. The chemical routes will be evaluated under the environmental perspective, using some of the principles of Life Cycle Assessment tool to estimate the environmental performance profiles of the valuation processes. This project also aims to strengthen the partnership with the French institution to recover fibrous residues from waste, including those from the food industry in the master program of ITAL. (AU)