Polytechnic University of Catalunya (UPC) has created a new material from waste paper

The new material, dubbed Biprocel, obtained by a biotechnology process of cellulose waste, explained its creator, Margarita Calafell, a researcher at the School of Industrial and Aeronautic Engineering of Terrassa (ETSEIAT) attached to the UPC

Polytechnic University of Catalunya (UPC) has created a new material from waste paper

The material can also be made from cardboard, it is moulded, fireproof, porous, waterproof and very tough, and can replace plastic and other materials used in the construction industry.


The new material, dubbed Biprocel, obtained by a biotechnology process of cellulose waste, explained its creator, Margarita Calafell, a researcher at the School of Industrial and Aeronautic Engineering of Terrassa (ETSEIAT) attached to the UPC, who underlined that it is also environmentally friendly and does not require the use of chemicals for its production.

According to Calafell, in the process of obtaining Biprocel there is no loss of material, since for every kilogram of waste one is obtained of biprocel, as the water used in the process is recycled, and it has a relatively low energy cost lower than the chemical transformations of cellulose-based materials.

The research project by Margarita Calafell has been selected from among 37 projects presented at the XXI bio-entrepreneurs contest, sponsored by the Genome Spain Foundation and selected from 170 projects presented at the IX Business Ideas Competition ACC1Ó program of the Generalitat of Catalonia. Margarita Calafell explained that they have already patented the new product, and that its creation may replace materials that show little respect for the environment or which are more expensive, such as plastics, timber or rubber.

And thanks to its properties of resistance, insulation, waterproofing and low density, Biprocel may replace, for example, drywall and other materials used in the construction industry for insulating walls, soundproofing panels and ceilings.

The new material, can be pliable, allowing it be used for packaging, so it can replace styrofoam and other petroleum products. The research also highlights that with the new technique that has been developed for this material, you can get to modify the properties of all types of waste coming from cellulosic material such as paper, plastic and even rubber tires.

Another property of this new material, according to its creator, is that there is a type of particle board, but a material that has unique and uniform properties. Margarita Calafell said that when the materials are mass produced it will cost between 50 cents and one euro a kilo.



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