The project develops novel technologies for production of value-added food packages and composites based on renewable materials by enzymatic and chemo-enzymatic methods. The generic goal of the project is to develop widely applicable novel technologies. Enzymes needed in the fibre modification will be selected, characterised and produced in pilot scale with an optimised strain. T he adhesion of fibres with biopolymers will be improved by direct radical binding, hydrophobisation or bridging by using enzymatic and chemo-enzymatic methods.

The effects will be analysed. The most promising fibres will be converted in laboratory scale with biopolymers for load bearing composite materials and food packaging materials. Case studies with prototypes will be used to demonstrate the potential of the materials in composite and food packaging materials and to evaluate their economical and environmental competitiveness.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Anna SUURNÄKKI / Technical Research Centre of Finland Biotechnology Department / FINLAND

Participant

• Pascale ESCAFFRE / Ahlstrom Research and Competence Centre S.A. FRANCE
• Urs J HANGGI / BIOMER GERMANY
• Joop van der LAAN / Genencor International B.V. Microbial and Molecular Screening / NETHERLANDS
• Anders FLODSTRÖM / Kungliga Tekniska Hoegskolan Department of Chemistry / SWEDEN
• Hans HANSSON / SICOMP AB SWEDEN
• Henry LINDELL / STORA ENSO OY Stora Enso Research / FINLAND
• Mark ATKINS / Tetra Pak Research & Development AB Advanced Materials / SWEDEN
• Marcello FONTANESI / Università Degli Studi di Milano Bicocca Dipartimento di Scienze dell' Ambiente e del Territorio / ITALY