VERDE's feedstock-flexible processing technology transforms various plant wastes into high-value, biodegradable cellulose nanofibers cheaply and sustainably. Cellulose nanofibers are extremely versatile biopolymers that can replace plastics and other petroleum-based materials in many applications. By providing cost-competitive nanofibers, VERDE will help develop high-performance and more sustainable materials in the circular economy.
FELLOW
Danielle Pascoli
Danielle Pascoli completed her Ph.D. at the University of Washington (UW), where she built expertise in biomass conversion to biofuels and biomaterials with a focus on process development and sustainability. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemical engineering from the University of São Paulo in Brazil and a master’s degree from UW. VERDE Nanomaterials is a result of her doctoral research, for which she developed a cost-effective process to manufacture nanocellulose using agricultural wastes.
TECHNOLOGY
Critical Need
Now more than ever, the world needs sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based materials to help combat climate change and reduce the environmental impact of greenhouse gasses. Nanocellulose, a natural polymer derived from plants, can replace synthetic materials in various applications. However, nanocellulose is currently produced from bleached wood pulp through intensive and costly processing, resulting in an expensive final product. To expand nanocellulose's uses and enable scalability, it is imperative to find cost-effective solutions for producing this unique biomaterial.
Technology Vision
VERDE Nanomaterials’ unique conversion process is cheaper and more sustainable than conventional nanocellulose production processes. The technology’s innovation comes from the application of several green chemistry principles. It utilizes low-cost renewable feedstocks such as agricultural and forestry residues, harvested invasive plants, and wastes from other industries to produce the nano-sized fibrils. The mild process conditions ensure maximum yields, with final products preserving most of the starting material’s components. The process also has high energy-efficiency since the reactions are carried out at atmospheric pressure, and it employs biodegradable chemicals that do not accumulate in the environment.
Potential for Impact
Affordable nanocellulose provides a tangible substitute for petroleum-based materials in high-volume applications such as packaging, automotive manufacturing, construction, and more. Replacing petroleum-based materials with nanocellulose in such vast markets will reduce the CO₂ emissions associated with both their production and disposal. By using agricultural wastes as feedstock, VERDE Nanomaterials will also be converting the atmospheric CO₂ captured by those plants into long-lasting, valuable biomaterials, supporting a circular bioeconomy.
Website
VERDE Nanomaterials