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Connecting Fibers

To help the building industry to become fully biobased, this project aims at the development of a biobased adhesive or binder based on biomasses like miscanthus, bamboo, fiber hemp or pruning wood for use in panel boards like CLT or particle board.

The Netherlands wants to be 100% circular in 2050. In order to reach this goal, a transition towards a biobased economy is essential. Currently, the building industry is making this transition. There are already building concepts available which are mostly biobased. However, the developments with respect to biobased adhesives are staying behind. This project makes a substantial contribution to a biobased building industry. 

Quick info

Status

On-going

Start date

1 November 2023

Duration

2.5 years

Program

RAAK-mkb

Project leader

Karin Struijs

Contact

Karin.struijs@han.nl

Motivation

'Being completely circular by 2050' that is the goal for the Dutch economy. The transition towards the circular and biobased economy for energy and materials is essential to reach that goal. Sustainably produced materials based on renewable sources like biomass should be developed.
 
One of the industries which recognizes the need for transition is the building industry. Currently, there are a couple of biobased building concepts available which claim to be more than 95% biobased. Since the current resins and adhesives, used to produce panel boards (like cross laminated timber (CLT)), are all produced synthetically, one of the missing links for the building industry to become 100% biobased are biobased resins and adhesives (and binders).  
 
At the same time, there are several fibrous biomass side streams available for which higher added value applications are demanded. These side streams are perfect sources of lignin and cellulose and are, therefore, very suitable sources to form the basis for biobased resins/adhesives/binders. However, they need modification to obtain the desired functionalities.
 
The problem statement of this project, based on the request for valorization of fibrous side streams and the need for biobased building materials, is 'How can we valorize fibrous biomass (side streams) into biobased building applications'.

Purpose

The aim of this research is to develop a biobased resin, adhesive or binder for the production of panel boards based on the side streams of fibrous/lignocellulosic biomass which meets the requirement of the building industry.

Method

In literature, there are several solutions described for resins/adhesives/binders which are based on the biomolecules lignin and cellulose which are abundantly present in fibrous biomass. 
Starting from the fibrous biomasses from our partners (bamboo, fiber hemp, miscanthus, chopped and washed wood trimmings), we will extract and analyze the lignin and/or cellulose.
 
In the next phase, the lignin or biomolecule will be chemically converted into a resin, which in turn, will be formulated into an adhesive. The optimal reaction conditions and formulations need to be identified, and the variations in properties because of variations in starting material will be studied.
 
Finally, the adhesive will be used to prepare a panel board like CTL or CLB. The physical properties will be investigated and adjusted to meet the requirements of the building industry.

Our partners

  • Bamboologic
  • Pantanova 
  • Miscancell
  • Hooijer Renkum
  • Saba Adhesives
  • MyQB
  • Hendriks Bouw en Ontwikkeling
  • Boerboom
  • KennisCentrum Circulaire Bouw
  • Advise: FNWI-Radboud Universiteit
Research group
 

Biobased Innovations

To prevent our beautiful planet from turning into a vast barren wasteland, the raw material transition is an absolute necessity. In the Biobased Innovations research group, together with partners and students, we are working hard on the further development of key technologies that support this necessary transition.