Oriol Cusola, a 29-year-old researcher from Lleida, has patented a new aqueous compound to functionalise or modify the properties of paper and any other cellulosic material.
The compound uses natural enzymes instead of the traditional chemical reagents, is biodegradable, and involves no environmental impact. Most important, it is easily applicable in the production process and requires no additional investment.
This major technological innovation will greatly facilitate the creation of new paper products with high added value. So far, the company applying the new product is able to make waterproof paper in an alternative way using biotechnology and without using the common chemicals that hinder recycling. By means of a single application, the new product makes paper multifunctional or gives it several properties, such as being hydrophobic and antioxidant or acting as a barrier.
Waterproof paper without chemical reagents
Though companies are keen to invest in biotechnology, the introduction of enzymatic treatments that modify paper in order to create new products from cellulose is complex and costly. To generate the enzymatic reaction, the production must be stopped at a particular stage in the industrial process. The new compound patented by Cusola adheres to the surface of the paper and instantly modifies its properties. It can be applied immediately within current manufacturing systems without stopping the production line.
Cusola and the CelBiotech paper research group of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech (UPC) have done specific work on making paper hydrophobic and their new patented compound allows paper to be waterproofed without using conventional chemical reagents.
The group have also experimented with cellulose-based textiles to check the effectiveness of the new product. One of the results is that they were able to make a baby’s bib waterproof on one side by spraying it with the product.
A revolution in the paper industry
On the market there are currently about 2,900 different types of special papers that are not used for writing. At a time of growth of electronic publications, the trend in the international paper industry is to seek to modify or functionalise the properties of cellulose to generate new uses and new applications. Examples are giving paper the properties of plastics and other petroleum products to manufacture biodegradable food cartons; making paper antioxidant so that it can keep food for longer; changing paper’s properties to make it sufficiently waterproof for manufacturing cups without adding paraffin; and adding antibacterial substances to produce infection-proof dressings.
The Latest on: Waterproof paper
[google_news title=”” keyword=”waterproof paper” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Waterproof paper
- Full Review of the Rakuten Kobo BW E-Readeron May 5, 2024 at 8:37 pm
The Kobo Colour e-readers might be capturing all of the headlines on major news publications and tech review sites, and with good reason. The Kobo Libra Colour and Clara Colour are the first colour ...
- These Waterproof Vessi Shoes Are My Ultimate Travel Packing List Essentialon May 3, 2024 at 11:15 am
You can also find slip-on shoes that are perfect for the airport, classic athletic silhouettes for days with lots of walking, Chelsea boots, hiking styles and more. Since all of t ...
- I Walked Eight Miles in These Waterproof Shoes and Now Refuse to Travel Without Themon May 3, 2024 at 7:15 am
It boasts a variety of waterproof yet on-trend silhouettes ... I also consulted the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Senior Analyst Emma Seymour for her footwear and travel ...
- The best camping gear, according to National Geographic staffon April 25, 2024 at 1:10 pm
Brands like REI Co-op, Coleman, and Kelty are renowned for their high-quality camping gear, offering a wide range of products designed for durability, performance, and comfort in the outdoors.
- The best mattress protectors of 2024, including waterproof options for babies and toddlerson April 24, 2024 at 2:32 am
The best mattress protectors keep beds safe from accidents at night. We tried and tested them all, with the aid of a three year-old ...
- EPA puts first-ever limits on "forever chemicals" in drinking wateron April 10, 2024 at 6:32 am
from receipt paper and waterproof clothes to umbrella coatings and dental floss. Inevitably, PFAS have also seeped into our water supply. To address this, the Environmental Protection Agency ...
- Waterproof ‘e-glove’ could help scuba divers communicateon April 10, 2024 at 5:01 am
However, rendering the electronic sensors waterproof for use in a swimming ... and Suqian Key Research and Development Plan. The paper’s abstract will be available on April 10 at 8 a.m. Eastern ...
- JBM Packaging unveils Hydroblox, an eco-friendly, waterproof packaging paperon November 14, 2023 at 10:20 am
As the US gears up to celebrate America Recycles Day on 15 November, JBM Packaging, a prominent manufacturer of eco-friendly packaging solutions, has launched Hydroblox. This innovative product ...
- Amazon's New Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite Is The Only Kindle You Needon October 16, 2018 at 9:00 am
Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I write about how to do more with your consumer gadgets. The new Kindle Paperwhite is an impressive leap in technology over the previous ...
- Paper and Paperboard Materials Specificationson February 15, 2018 at 2:08 am
Hydrophobic / Waterproof Hydrophobic or waterproof materials do not dissolve or degrade when exposed to water. Waterproof paper may still absorb water if the product is hydrophilic and has open ...
via Bing News