HEИндивидуална стипендия2023–2025

LignoMBB · Lignin utilization in mycelium-based biocomposites from recycled wood

„Хоризонт Европа“ — Действия „Мария Склодовска-Кюри“

Период: 2023-11-01 → 2025-10-31
Финансиране от ЕС: 199 441 €
Участници: 1
Схема: HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF

Линиите свързват координатора с партньорите.

Накратко на български

Гъбичният мицел се изследва като естествено лепило, което превръща лигнина и рециклираното дърво в нови биокомпозитни материали. Това помага за намаляване на отпадъците и заменянето на енергоемките материали с възобновяеми алтернативи в строителството.

Този кратък обзор е генериран от изкуствен интелект

Кратко обяснение, генерирано от езиков модел по текста на CORDIS. Оригиналът е по-долу.

Резултати накратко

Lignin utilization in mycelium-based biocomposites from recycled wood

The LignoMBB project was conceived in response to two challenges: the growing volume of recycled wood that cannot be reused in high-value applications, and the limited industrial utilisation of lignin, a by-product of the pulp and paper industry. Both materials represent significant resources within Europe’s circular bioeconomy. At the same time, the construction and materials sectors are under increasing pressure to replace fossil-based and energy-intensive materials with renewable and low-carbon alternatives. The overall objective of the project was to explore how biological processes, namely fungal mycelium growth, could transform lignin and recycled wood into new types of mycelium-based biocomposites (MBBs). The idea was that fungi, through their enzymatic systems, can act as a natural biobinder, creating composites with no use of synthetic adhesives. By combining biological activity with waste valorisation, LignoMBB aimed to demonstrate a new model of material production that is environmentally sound. Beyond the research goal, the project also pursued training and career objectives for the researcher, including skill development in mycology, spectroscopy, neural-network modelling, and research management. In the broader European context, LignoMBB directly supports the ambitions of the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan by addressing waste reduction, resource efficiency, and decarbonisation of materials. By the end of the fellowship, the project demonstrated both technological feasibility and practical examples of bioprocessing at laboratory and pilot scale. These results provide a foundation for further research and potential transfer to industrial partners interested in sustainable and circular material production.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз

Цел на проекта

We have reached a point where we have to use recycled wood, which is mostly contaminated, to a greater extent because there is a shortage of raw wood in the EU. At the same time, in pulp mills, we produce large amounts of lignin, however, use it mainly for energy purposes.LignoMBB is bringing technology for the production of mycelium-based biocomposites (MBB), during which recycled wood is decontaminated. Secondly, LignoMBB is using lignin, which is currently mainly used for energy and is understood as a by- or waste product, in order to achieve better mycelial growth on the developed substrate. I am the first to suggest enriching the substrate for the production of MBB with lignin, expecting that the addition of lignin will result in better mechanical properties of the MBB. LignoMBB develops materials only from recycled wood and lignin, i.e. it does not use agricultural residues, as is currently common practice, and does not endanger food security. At the same time, it finds application for large volumes of old contaminated wood, which is currently entering circulation. My first objective is to develop a technology for the material use of lignin and a substitution technology of agricultural residues in MBBs with lignin and recycled wood. Then, I will answer the questions: To which extent additional lignin in MBB is consumed by fungi? What are the limits of substrate enrichment by lignin? In accordance with the second objective, I will develop a novel MBB to be used in structural applications. At different stages of the MBB cycle, I will measure the VOC emissions because I am hypothesizing that the production process of MBB can act as bioremediation and decreases VOC emissions from materials.LignoMBB will be implemented at BOKU in Bio-Resources & Technologies Tulln group, where the emphasis is placed on cradle-to-cradle design and brings to this group methods of recycled wood decontamination and production of fully degradable MBB.

Оригинален текст от CORDIS (на английски).

Участници

UNIVERSITAET FUER BODENKULTUR WIEN · WienКоординаторАвстрия