Research groups from the Universidad del Valle (Univalle) recently obtained two patents in different areas: one for a process that makes commercial wood from cane waste; and the other for new seismic isolators made of a material that is cheaper and lighter than steel.
Professor Julio Cesar Caicedo Angulo, a researcher at the School of Materials at the Faculty of Engineering from Univalle; and Professor Ana Cristina Bolaños Rojas of the Biology Department of Univalle, recently obtained a patent for a process that converts cane bagasse residues into a commercial wood without toxic compounds found in some other fiberboards.
"This wood is suitable for applications in the home, such as decoration or furniture," said Professor Caicedo, adding that the wood produced by this process does not use phenolic compounds from petroleum, which are considered carcinogenic and are found in other manufactured woods like Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF).
In February 2022, the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce of the Republic of Colombia approved the application of Universidad del Valle for a patent for the “Wood Biocomposite Material and its Method of Obtaining it.”
According to the patent, the woody pulp obtained from this method is then broken down by the Pleurotus ostreatus fungus, which makes up between 10-15% by weight of cane bagasse.
The material undergoes a pressing stage between 150 and 300°C and at a pressure between 1,000 and 3,000 kg for every 500 g of biocomposite.
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| Professor Caicedo (left) explaining the functions of a machine in the lab. Crédito: Engineering Faculty, Univalle |
Circular Economy
In a region where there are currently 241.205 hectares of sugarcane under cultivation and which saw 629 hectares of forest lost 2016, finding a solution that takes advantage of cane waste and simultaneously lowers the use of wild wood would be very useful."This has an impact on the circular economy because it reduces the environmental impact of biomass waste," Professor Caicedo said.
In his laboratory at the School of Materials of the Faculty of Engineering, the professor showed different machines used to perform quality tests, for example, measuring the force that the material can withstand.
“The wood made by our process has the same qualities as materials made with conventional woods,” explained Professor Caicedo.
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| Foto: Professor Caicedo in the lab. Credit: Andrew James/NCC-FI/Univalle |
A Patent Based en Biology
Professor Bolaños explained that the central ideas of the project were generated during the development of the experiments related to her doctoral thesis.
“Recurring observations of fungal behavior later allowed me to form and lead the research proposal with a high degree of confidence,” Professor Bolaños said.
Professor Bolaños explained that the main actor in the biological process is the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm. , adding that the strain of the fungus used rests in the in vitro collection of Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes fungi of the Department of Biology of Univalle.
Read more from the School of Material Engineering: Engineers in Cali, Colombia Are Building Forges That Are Better For Business And The Environment
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| Photo: Professor Caicedo in his laboratory. Credit: Andrew James/NCC-FI/Univalle |
Another Patent From Univalle
The wood patent is not the only thing to be released in recent months at Univalle's Faculty of Engineering: a design for cheaper and lighter seismic isolators that can help protect structures from seismic events has also been approved.Profesor Peter Thomson, director of the G-7 research group, explained that in Colombia and other seismically active countries it is common for hospitals and other critical infrastructure to have insulators, but since they are made of steel, they could be expensive and heavy.
In December 2021, the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce of the Republic of Colombia approved the application of Universidad del Valle and the company Surtidor Industrial SAS for a patent for a “Multilayer Seismic Isolator Made of Rubber Reinforced with Bidirectional Polyester Fibers and Thickness Between 1 .1 and 2 millimeters”.
"It works just like the isolators available today, at an affordable price which means we can use it not only in hospitals, but in a large number of structures, such as bridges and residential buildings," said Professor Thomson, adding that the price and Lower weight comes from using parts made from polyester fibers.
"This work has its origins 15 years ago," said Professor Thomson, adding that the next step is to work with the company Surtidor Industrial SAS to commercialize the design with the goal of producing them on an industrial scale in Colombia.
If you would like to contact the researchers or learn more about the projects, write to the Communications Office of the Faculty of Engineering: comunicaingenieria(at)correounivalle.edu.co.
Banner Photo: Professor Caicedo in his laboratory. Credit: Andrew James/NCC-FI/Univalle
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