Scientists and innovative research institutions around the world aim to reduce environmental pollution. One way is to fully exploit the potential of waste material. As part of an Czech–Austrian INTERREG project, CEITEC BUT of Brno (a research group which deals with advanced biomaterials led by Lucy Vojtová) joined forces with Wood K plus (Bioeconomy Austria Network-partner). Together, we are working to provide another use for waste bark, of which the European forest industry alone produces more than 30 million tons per year. It is proven to be a raw material rich in bioactive compounds with the potential to produce specialty chemicals and products with high added value. The material could be used, for example, in protective masks and respirators.
In the Czech–Austrian cross-border cooperation project within the European regional development fund Interreg, scientists and researchers are trying to change the use of waste bark. Their goal is that it is not only used as a source of energy, but also as a raw material from which special products can be made. It has been shown to have demonstrable antibacterial and antiviral properties. Wood K plus is a leading research organisation in the field of wood and renewable resources in Europe. Their main task in the framework of the TECHBIKOM project is to process the bark with the help of extractions in the form of extracts of bioactive substances. These are handed over to scientists at the CEITEC BUT research center in Brno, which deals with the development of innovative advanced materials and nanomaterials. As part of the Advanced Biomaterials research group, led by Assoc. Prof. Lucy Vojtová in collaboration with the group of Dr. Radka Přikryl from the BUT Faculty of Chemistry, the substances are used for the preparation of submicron fibers from biodegradable polymers with an adjustable degradation time.
“Our task is to use the process of centrifugal spinning (similar to the process of making cotton candy) to prepare fibers of material with antibacterial and antiviral effects, which will decompose in nature after a certain, predetermined time. We have already verified these fiber properties in a pilot study of the TECHBIKOM project to create a functional sample,” explains Vojtová, describing the development of the innovative material.