RenEcoPol · Sustainable route for circularity of renewable polyesters
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2021-06-01 → 2023-05-31
- EU contribution
- €171,473
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Sustainable route for circularity of renewable polyesters
The problem addressed by RenEcoPol project and why it is important for society: Plastic pollution is one of the most challenging environmental issues of the current years. The material and polymer sectors are facing the challenge of integrating the sustainability of both processes and products, including their management after disposal. Renewable bio-based polymers are a solution offered by bioeconomy to solve the environmental emergency connected to fossil-based plastics. It was demonstrated that more than 70 % of the natural capital cost associated with plastic derives from the extraction and processing of fossil raw materials. The aim of the RenEcoPol project was to develop and implement a new scientific approach for the ecodesign of environmentally safe polymers based on the integration of bioinformatics knowledge, biocatalysis and polymer chemistry data, environmental biotechnology and ecology. The RenEcoPol project objectives were achieved by implementing ecodesign strategies able to rationally select targeted monomers and enzymes. The RenEcoPol project overall objectives foreseen and achieved were: • to develop computational procedure able to analyze and evaluate the ability of different hydrolases to interact and to accept short chain substrates either for synthetic or degradative processes. • to obtain biobased polyesters by using green routes and to perform a complete characterization by using several analytical techniques. • to evaluate the ecological impact by determination of the ecotoxicity and biodegradation rates in marine environment and the development of reuse and recycle strategies of the monomers obtained after polymer degradation.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
During the years it has been shown that the problem of the environmental impact due to the dispersion in the environment of organic materials recalcitrant to biodegradation (e.g. plastics, lubricants) can only be partially solved by collection and recycling strategies. In this respect, studies are needed that provide effective solutions, embracing the entire life cycle of the material, starting from its design, up to its ""end of life"". Thus, The RenEcoPol project aim is to develop alternative routes for recyclable polyester synthesis based on biobased building blocks using green processes such as biocatalysis. RenEcoPol first develops a strategy for the selection of monomers from renewable sources completed by a selection of the green catalysts for synthesis of polyesters possible candidates for different applications ranging from packaging to high performance materials. The new biobased polyesters will be characterized in detail by several analytical techniques for structure confirmation and assessment of the physico-chemical properties. In the third step the biodegradability in different natural and synthetic conditions of the synthesized materials will be evaluated and in the last step the development of a strategy for the recoverment of the components will be performed. Following all the steps the compliance to bioeconomy and circular economy criteria will be demonstarted. The RenEcoPol project will familiarize the researcher with bioinformatics, marine biotechnology and will promote her development as independent researcher and facilitate the acquisition of a stable research position in Europe.""
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TRIESTE · TriesteCoordinatorItaly
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union