The ENBIOMECH project aimed to create sustainable and efficient methods for producing bio-based nanomaterials from cellulose and lignin using mechanochemistry and related solid-state synthetic approaches. Cellulose, a renewable resource, can yield valuable nanomaterials such as cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) through mechanical, chemical and/or enzymatic processing. Due to the high aspect ratio, tensile strength, and tunable surface chemistry, these nanomaterials have a strong impact on the properties of composite materials, making them highly sought after by various industries. For example, the food and beverage, textile, and personal care industries utilize nanocelluloses in sustainable packaging solutions, driving the demand for their production.
The overarching objectives of the ENBIOMECH project were:
- Develop mechanochemical technologies for efficient and renewable biocatalyst-based (enzyme) production of cellulose and lignin nanoparticles, and characterize the obtained materials.
- Create a facile mechanochemical method for covalently modifying CNCs with oligonucleotides, to create CNC-based self-sorting nanoscale building blocks.
- Investigate the supramolecular self-assembly of oligonucleotide-CNC nanoarrays.
The ENBIOMECH project made significant advances in transforming cellulose materials, namely in utilizing cellulase enzymes in solid-state reactions to transform cotton to cellulose nanomaterials and in mechanochemical modification of cellulose nanocrystals. Unlike traditional chemical synthesis and modification methods of CNCs, which require large volumes of caustic or toxic chemicals and clean water, the solvent-free cellulose modification methods developed within this project provide fast and environmentally benign approaches, that curb the amount of hazardous waste generated. As a result, the ENBIOMECH project contributes to EU priority topics, such as resource efficiency in sustainable forestry, promoting renewable materials, and environmentally conscious use of energy, water, and raw materials.
The ENBIOMECH project provided an opportunity for the researcher to return to Europe and build a scientific career aligned with the strong regional interest in biomass derived products. Through the programme, the researcher gained experience in leading independent research, project supervision and management, and building a wide scientific network, all of which have helped advanced her career.
