Bugworkers

BUGWORKERS is a European collaborative project aiming to develop new environmentally friendly bionanocomposite materials by fermentation culture technology production routes. The material will be a polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) matrix with one or two types of nanofibres: cellulose whiskers and lignin based fibres; and will be a real alternative to existing engineering materials. The outcomes of this project will be targeted at two main sectors: household appliances and computers/telecommunications.

The aims of the project are:

• To produce a tailor-made PHB biopolymer structure obtained using new fermentation culture conditions, i.e.: by synergic combination of different media and precursor feedings (specific sugar blends) obtained from hydrolyzed bio-mass.
• To improve the cost competitiveness of this PHB biopolymer by optimisation of the biosynthesis process and the use of agricultural wastes, thus avoiding any impact on or competition with food supply.
• Achieve enhanced material properties such as improved thermal and chemical properties, higher impact resistance, easier processing etc.
• Develop methods of growing cellulose whiskers and lignin nanofibres by enzymatic methods to allow the production of PHB composites with new features, such as antimicrobial, flame retardant and self-assembly properties.
• To produce compounds of PHB with both types of fibres using the planetary multi-screw extruder for improved nanofibres distribution; reduced thermal degradation; and improving the fibre-matrix interphase e.g. by introduction of coupling agents in reactive extrusion.

The project runs from July 2010 to July 2014. The consortium is composed of 15 partners from nine countries across Europe, including four technological centres, nine SMEs and two large companies.

Project partner list:

• AIMPLAS (co-ordinator)
• NetComposites
• Biotrend
• Naturstoff-Technik
• Wetlands
• Biorefinery
• BH Industries
• Extruder Experts
• Promolding
• Proform
• Fermax
• Arcelik
• Fraunhofer ICT
• Instituto Superior Tecnico
• TECNALIA

Website address: www.bugworkersproject.eu

Acknowledgements:

Bugworkers is a SME targeted collaborative project part funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme NMP-2009-2.4-1: “New biomass-based composite materials and their processing” under Grant agreement number 246449