Valorization of juice Industry waste into Paper-like Materials Using mycelium as natural binder
- Najmeh Mousavi
- PhD student,
- University of Borås
- Co-author(s): Akram Zamani, Minna Hakkarainen and Sunil Kumar Ramamoorthy
- Supervisor (PhD-students/postdocs): Akram Zamani
- Residues generated in juice production processes contain significant amounts of cellulose, suitable for developing cellulose-based materials. However, utilization of cellulose from these residues typically requires chemical treatment and binding agent to integrate the fibres network. These residues are also rich in sugars and other nutrients beneficial for microorganism growth and are commonly used in biogas production. To promote a circular economy and retain carbon sources in material form, we aim to utilize these residues as low-cost substrates for fungal cultivation, producing mycelium that binds cellulosic structures. The nutrients available in carrot pomace (CP) were used to cultivate fungus in bioreactors. The obtained mycelium entwined with CP fibers, was heated to deactivate fungal cells. A suspension of mycelium and fibrous fraction of CP was homogenized using an ultrafiner grinder to produce paper-like material via the wet-laid method. Ashby charts confirm that the properties of the resulting papers are comparable to those of industrial paper products. A paper with a grammage of 120 g/m2 was evaluated for packaging application, showing an average porosity of 36 µm and tensile strength of 48.8 MPa. Post-treatment with glycerol decreased porosity and tensile strength but increased elongation at break and flexibility to 60%, making the paper suitable for use as wrapping paper. Papers with a grammage of 38 g/m2 grammage and 13.5 MPa tensile strength were tested as filter papers for dye removal, achieving approximately 83% methylene blue dye removal.
- TIme of presentation: 13:20
