Flui

Project

FLUI project (27 months) focuses on the development of new bio-based polylactic acid (bio-PLA) extrusion systems with concomitant injection of biological extracts rich in bioactive compounds for the production of flexible biofunctional films for food packaging. PLA will be obtained via self-hydrolysis and simultaneous fermentation of forest lignocellulosic residues and the bioactive extracts will be obtained/extracted from food and agri-food industry residues.

FLUI project is oriented towards the development of innovative and disruptive equipment for the production of food packaging - which will allow to increase shelf time of packaged foods and reduce food waste. The project comprises a strong mechanical engineering component (new equipment), industrial biotechnology (integration capacity in bioactive compounds and process chemistry equipment (bio-functional PLA optimized for the production of flexible films) and will contribute the valorisation and conversion of renewable resources (wood-cellulosic biomass) in high added value product, and it will be an opportunity to implement a business model in Circular Economy (EC).

PROJECT SHEET

Strategic Objectives

Investigate, design and develop an innovative equipment for the production of mono- and multilayer biofunctional flexible films (FLUI) that will be produced by simultaneous double PLA extrusion and simultaneous functionalization with extracts of biological origin;

Optimization of large-scale PLA production from lignocellulosic biomass from inland territories and optimization of extraction and integration into PLA of bioactive extracts and pigments.

To characterise the performance of the solutions developed and obtain biofunctional films preserving at least 60% of the initial bioactivity present of the extract, by reducing the loss of bioactivity by thermal action in the production line of the extrusion process;

Build a prototype of equipment and produce samples of the biofunctional flexible films to be applied in food packaging with high and low moisture content;

Consortium

Líder

Co-Promotors

contacts

Business Centre
Rua Nossa Senhora da Conceição, 2
3405-155 OLIVEIRA DO HOSPITAL

(+351) 238 011 400

General Affairs / Research / Innovation :
circular@cecolab.pt
Services in Circular Economy:
services@cecolab.pt
Communication & Marketing:
comunicacao.marketing@cecolab.pt