Project description
Converting natural polymers into sustainable bioplastics for agrifood systems
Petroleum-based plastics generate substantial greenhouse gas emissions throughout their life cycle, whereas bioplastics derived from plant biomass provide a more sustainable alternative, as plants absorb CO₂ during growth and retain it while the bioplastic is in use. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have emerged as promising green solvents for valorising plant waste, yet their potential for directly converting biomass into bioplastics remains largely unexplored. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the NEOPLASTICS project aims to valorise low-cost, non-edible biomass to produce bioplastics as an alternative to petroleum-derived polymers for agricultural and packaging applications. The project will investigate the role of NADES in biomass conversion, contributing to a zero-waste approach, a circular economy and a reduced carbon footprint.
Objective
Petroleum-derived plastics produce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), the primary cause of climate change, at every single stage of their life cycle. On the contrary, plant biomass is produced via photosynthesis, which involves the transformation of carbon dioxide (one of the GHGs), water, and light into chemical bonds. Therefore, using plant biomass to produce bioplastics removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and keeps it stored throughout the product's useful life. Therefore, NEOPLASTICS aims to valorize highly available, low-cost, and non-edible lignocellulosic and non-lignocellulosic vegetable waste to prepare bioplastics that represent an alternative to the traditionally used petroleum-derived polymers for agricultural and packaging applications. Specifically, this project will study the role of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) as facilitators for transforming biomass into bioplastics. These compounds are gaining importance as solvents for vegetable waste valorization. They are usually used for biomass fractionation, and only a few recent works have reported their use in transforming natural polymers into bioplastics by acting either as solvents or as plasticizers. These researches represent only a starting point for what it is possible to do with these innovative solvents, whose main advantage is that it is possible to tune their physicochemical properties by varying the nature and ratio of their constituents, which in turn can lead to a wide range of materials properties for different applications. The project introduced here is highly ambitious. It will not only provide advantages such as zero waste generation, contribution to the circular economy, and a low carbon footprint manufacturing process, but it will also boost the career of the experienced researcher and enrich the knowledge and experiences of both the researcher and the host institution, impacting positively on the scientific community, the civil society, and the business sector.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering manufacturing engineering
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy
- social sciences political sciences political policies civil society
- social sciences economics and business economics sustainable economy
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials bioplastics
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
48940 Leioa
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.