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SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF NOVEL BIODEGRADABLE POLYESTERS

Fact Sheet

Reporting

Results

Project information

BIODEST

Grant agreement ID: 778092

Project website

Status

Ongoing project

Start date

1 January 2018
End date

31 December 2021

Funded under:

H2020-EU.1.3.3.

Overall budget:

€ 1 395 000
EU contribution

€ 1 260 000

Coordinated by:

UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA

Spain

Objective

BIODEST (Synthesis, Characterization, Structure and Properties of Novel Biodegradable Polyesters) Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) project aims to strengthen around student and staff exchanges with the aim to improve skills and knowledge of the participating partners and promote collaboration between four European Research organizations: University of the Basque Country (Spain), University of Mons (Belgium), University of Genova (Italy), and University of Warwick (U.K.) and five non-EU Research Organizations: University of Tulane (USA), Chinese Academy of Science (China), Simon Bolivar University (Venezuela), University of Stellenbosch (South Africa), and Yamagata University (Japan). Moreover the non-academic European organization “Ma+D - Waste Valorization Engineering” will collaborate in the networking activities. The project will provide support for the participating research organizations to establish or reinforce long-term research cooperation in the topic of novel biodegradable polyesters through a coordinated joint programme of exchange of researchers for short periods.

Programme(s)

H2020-EU.1.3.3. - Stimulating innovation by means of cross-fertilisation of knowledge

Topic(s)

MSCA-RISE-2017 - Research and Innovation Staff Exchange

Call for proposal

H2020-MSCA-RISE-2017

See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

MSCA-RISE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE)

Coordinator

UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA

Address

Barrio Sarriena S N
48940 Leioa

Spain

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU Contribution

€ 364 500

Website

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Participants (4)

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THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

United Kingdom

EU Contribution

€ 288 000

University of Mons

Belgium

EU Contribution

€ 337 500

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI GENOVA

Italy

EU Contribution

€ 171 000

MASD INGENIERIA DE VALORIZACION DE RESIDUOS DE ORIGEN AGROFORESTAL

Spain

EU Contribution

€ 99 000

Partners (5)

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STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY

South Africa

INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

China

THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TULANE EDUCATIONAL FUND

United States

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION YAMAGATA UNIVERSITY

Japan

UNIVERSIDAD SIMON BOLIVAR

Venezuela

Project information

BIODEST

Grant agreement ID: 778092

Project website

Status

Ongoing project

Start date

1 January 2018
End date

31 December 2021

Funded under:

H2020-EU.1.3.3.

Overall budget:

€ 1 395 000
EU contribution

€ 1 260 000

Coordinated by:

UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA

Spain

Project information

BIODEST

Grant agreement ID: 778092

Project website

Status

Ongoing project

Start date

1 January 2018
End date

31 December 2021

Funded under:

H2020-EU.1.3.3.

Overall budget:

€ 1 395 000
EU contribution

€ 1 260 000

Coordinated by:

UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA

Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BIODEST (SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF NOVEL BIODEGRADABLE POLYESTERS)

Reporting period: 2018-01-01 to 2019-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Nowadays polymers/plastics are everywhere. However, many plastics are non-biodegradable, make use of non-renewable starting materials, and involve organic solvents in their production. All these factors have a negative impact in our environment. The Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) project BIODEST has as research objective the Synthesis, Characterization, Structure and Properties of Novel Biodegradable Polyesters. The project wants to strengthen the leading role of Europe in the green production of more sustainable plastics to preserve our environment. We are devoloping biobased and biodegradable polyesters (or copolyesters) that could substitute traditional plastics and also we are promoting the use of Green Chemistry, the emerging field that supports the design of reactions in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.
The overall objective of the project is to improve the skills and knowledge of the participating partners on novel biodegradable polyesters and to promote the collaboration between them. This goal is being reached first of all by staff exchanges between partners, but also by networking events and training.
BIODEST has assembled an excellent interdisciplinary team: University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU-POLYMAT, Spain), University of Mons (UMONS, Belgium), University of Genoa (UNIGE, Italy), University of Birmingham (UoB, U.K.) and five non-EU Research Organizations: University of Tulane (UTulane, USA), Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Science (ICCAS, China), Simón Bolívar University (USB, Venezuela), University of Stellenbosch (SU, South Africa) and Yamagata University (UYamagata, Japan). Moreover, a non-academic European (a SME) organization “Ingeniería de valorización de residuos” (Ma+D) is collaborating in the networking activities. The specialties of the different groups are complementary which permit to catalyze the growth of this vital field for environmental preservation. The project is very ambitious as it goes all the way from biobased monomers to biopolymers and their applications.
The secondees are experiencing novel, often multidisciplinary research environments. They are trained in novel techniques, taking part in courses and sharing their knowledge through meetings, conferences, courses and by the reintegration to their sending institution. Those visiting the company Ma+D also get important insights into this sector. These facts considerably improve their skills and have very positive effects on their CVs. Overall 101 PM (thereof 95 PM eligible for EU-funding) of secondments have been successfully implemented in reporting period 1.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The BIODEST research work performed during this first period was focused on three main pillars dealing with: a) preparation of monomers (WP1) and polyesters (WP2) using green chemistry approaches, b) the investigation of their structure, thermal and mechanical properties as a function of their chemical structure (WP3) and, c) the design of new materials for industrial (packaging) (WP4) and biomedical applications (WP5). By now all WPs have started their activities and we have finished all promised deliverables as well as reached all the milestones foreseen until the end of the reporting period 1.
In WP1 the BIODEST consortium is designing new routes to produce useful low molecular weight molecules using renewable sources such as CO2, monomers from the biomass (Eucalyptus, Poplar, flax) or monomers from polymer recycling, as well as small biobased molecules that can act as nucleating agents for polyesters (Ma+D, UMONS and UNIGE).
In WP2 the BIODEST consortium is using the biobased monomers obtained in WP1 and others to prepare biodegradable polyesters and copolyesters by solvent free (i.e. green) polymerization (UoB, UMONS, UTulane and UPV/EHU). Also, some model biodegradable polymers have been prepared. So, a new library of biobased and biodegradable plastic materials will be constructed in this project.
In order to compete with commercially available plastics, in WP3 we analyse the relationship between the structure and the properties of biodegradable polyesters and copolyesters (UPV/EHU, USB, UNIGE and ICCAS). Polymers are characterized by being semi-crystalline, so they contain amorphous (less dense and more permeable regions) and crystalline (with higher density) phases. If the crystallinity is too high, biodegradation is slow, as it is the result of a reaction with water (i.e. hydrolysis) that can only penetrate the amorphous regions. If the crystallinity is too low, the mechanical properties may not be good enough for specific applications. Hence a balance in properties is needed. The properties can be tailored by producing new polymers, changing thermal history or by copolymerization.
In WP4, the possibility of substituting traditional oil-based polymers like polyethylene and polypropylene by biodegradable alternatives in fields like packaging, water bottles and plastic bags are being explored. In this sense, polyester based blends and nanocomposites are been prepared and studied (UPV/EHU, USB, ICCAS and UNIGE).
Finally, it is expected that the new polyesters could find applications in nanomedicine due to their biodegradability and the utilization of “green” polymerization methods. Thus these polymers in the WP5 are being self-assembled and studied in drug delivery applications (UoB and SU).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

From the scientific point of view, this project has been contributing in the preparation of new biobased monomers, polymers and copolymers. We innovate in green chemistry and in doing so, we also produce new biodegradable polymeric materials that can potentially substitute traditional plastics. The applications that we seek are those that have low environmental impact (the production of new polyesters or copolyesters with tuned properties for packaging applications). In addition, some of the polymers prepared will have more specific biomedical applications in fields like drug delivery or even tissue regeneration.
We are contributing to enhance the potential and future career perspectives of the BIODEST staff members by offering international training in new techniques and methods, enriching their personal network and building long-lasting collaborations and relationships. By their research, they are generating meaningful results in an important scientific and societal field. All of these facts lead to the enrichment of the CV of each of the BIODEST secondees. On the other hand, BIODEST is achieving the transfer of knowledge between the participating organizations and contribution to improving research and innovation potential at the European and global level. An import role in terms of knowledge transfer can be attributed to the reintegration of the secondees to their home institutions. The BIODEST network is very active in the dissemination of the project’s results and are well on track to reach the estimated impact. The results have so far already been presented at 25 international conferences. The partners of BIODEST have been also active in participating in outreach activities to the general public to create awareness about their research work and the value of European and international collaboration as a driving force for scientific excellence and economic growth.

BIODEST Logo

Project information

BIODEST

Grant agreement ID: 778092

Project website

Status

Ongoing project

Start date

1 January 2018
End date

31 December 2021

Funded under:

H2020-EU.1.3.3.

Overall budget:

€ 1 395 000
EU contribution

€ 1 260 000

Coordinated by:

UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA

Project information

BIODEST

Grant agreement ID: 778092

Project website

Status

Ongoing project

Start date

1 January 2018
End date

31 December 2021

Funded under:

H2020-EU.1.3.3.

Overall budget:

€ 1 395 000
EU contribution

€ 1 260 000

Coordinated by:

UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA

Spain

Project information

BIODEST

Grant agreement ID: 778092

Project website

Status

Ongoing project

Start date

1 January 2018
End date

31 December 2021

Funded under:

H2020-EU.1.3.3.

Overall budget:

€ 1 395 000
EU contribution

€ 1 260 000

Coordinated by:

UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA

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Last update: 28 October 2019

Record number: 212999

Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/212999/factsheet/en

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Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BIODEST (SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF NOVEL BIODEGRADABLE POLYESTERS)

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Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BIODEST (SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF NOVEL BIODEGRADABLE POLYESTERS)

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