Research

Healthy soil with a sufficient water balance forms the basis of our food supply and is an important part of our economy. Depleted soils, persistent climate stress and natural disasters require effective countermeasures. In the context of soil health, the circular economy and the EU Green Deal, sheep's wool represents a valuable, previously neglected resource for soil improvement. A population of around 84 million sheep was identified in the European Union in 2018. As a by-product around 200,000 tons of sheep's wool (1.5-3 kg per sheep per year) are obtained. As there has been a lack of sales markets it is mainly burned or disposed of in landfill, thus enhancing the climate problem. For some years now, however, this valuable resource has been used again to some extent, pressed into pellets and can therefore be used as a fertilizer with many benefits. Additionally, to the valuable ingredients such as 50% carbon, 15% nitrogen, 5% sulphur and further micronutrients, uncleaned sheep's wool contains a microbiome that includes bio-stimulants which promote plant growth and nutrient uptake. Soil and sheep's wool microorganisms can also improve biodiversity which has a positive effect on soil health. This is based on the application of sheep's wool pellets as fertilizer and on the upcycling of renewable raw materials. Studies have shown that sheep's wool significantly increases vegetable yields and improves soil health and quality. However, there is still a need to develop suitable concepts and scientific expertise in order to fully exploit the ecological and agronomic benefits of this fertilizer in the future. The use of sheep's wool pellets in combination with super absorbent polymers (SAP) for water storage and targeted nutrient release is a novel and innovative solution. Biodegradable, water-absorbent polymers support the targeted release of nutrients and drastically increase the water storage capacity. These intelligent systems of bioactive fertilizers based on natural raw materials offer a revolutionary opportunity to promote sustainable soil health and soil management. Existing technologies are used to create material compounds that match the structural properties for targeted nutrient release and water retention in soil management. In this project two company partners - Ecolets and Green Legancy - are working together with scientific institutions - BOKU and TU Graz. The aim is to demonstrate how the combination of sheep's wool and biopolymers can be used to create a high-quality soil conditioner which, in harmony with the soil and plant microbiome, offers an innovative solution for sustainable agriculture, where experience and tradition meet hi-tech. This consortium enables comprehensive scientific support in the development process as well as a practical exchange of knowledge in the various initial applications, right through to the necessary expertise prior to market maturity.

This project serves to support the project partners of the Josef Ressel Center "Restex", in which various recycling strategies for blended textile fabrics, primarily polycotton (cotton-polyethylene terephthalate blended fabrics), are developed and analyzed. During their service life and especially during thermal reprocessing, the polyester chains are degraded by chemical (detergent), thermal, mechanical or hydrolytic influences. Re-granulated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is shear-sensitive and thermally sensitive during thermoplastic reprocessing. As a result of the reduced molecular weight the melt viscosity, melt strength and mechanical properties are drastically reduced compared to virgin polyesters. Hence the reuse of the polyester in equivalent applications is limited. The services provided by the Institute of Environmental Biotechnology (Bioplastics Technology Group) include the preparation of the textiles for the subsequent separation processes of cellulose and polyester as well as the performance of extrusion trials for the production of Re-PET granulates on a laboratory and production scale. The primary aims of these tests are (i) to optimize the mechanical properties of the recovered polyesters by means of analyses and (ii) to adapt the preparation and compounding process and, if necessary, (iii) to add additives to the recovered polyesters or surface modifications of the cellulosic residues.

The aim of the BIOBUILD project is to develop and demonstrate fully bio-based building materials with thermal energy storage function that can replace high environmental footprint products. Our solution demonstrates functional incorporation of bio-based phase change materials (bioPCMs) into solid wood and wood fibres bound by plant oil resins, lignin, or fungal mycelium to produce novel bio-composite building materials with significantly improved thermal properties. The novel materials possess a high multifunctional performance, meet requirements for sustainable “green” production, and ensure end-of-life options and recycling. Environmental and social impacts and benefits are fully integrated into the life-cycle perspective.