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Activity Funded

Adding value to lignin from biomass for hair care applications

Valorizar a lignina da biomassa para aplicações de cuidado capilar

Reference
2022.06810.PTDC
Project Start Date
2023-03-01
Project End Date
2024-11-30
Principal Investigator
Coinvestigator
Scientific Area
Engineering and technology
Funding Program
Concurso de Projetos de I&D em Todos os Domínios Científicos - 2022 - PEX

Abstract

Hair care formulations, like shampoos and conditioners, generally have conditioners incorporated to improve physical and aesthetical features of the hair. These substances reduce friction between fibers, smooth hair surface and restore hair shine and softness. These agents are usually cationic surfactants or cationic polymers that interact with the negatively charged hair hence neutralizing the hair charge. However, they have the inconvenient to be toxic for the aquatic environment with low biodegradability. The increasing awareness of the general population for the environmental issues has made industry more focused in environmental ecological alternatives privileging natural-based products. Besides, aspects like sustainability, zero waste and circular economy are leading the way to an increasing valorization of residues as useful resources for new products of added value. In this line, lignin which is an abundant by-product from the paper industry, appears as an important renewable alternative with “new value” given its utility in polymers’ synthesis. The main goal of this project is to prepare new sustainable cationic lignin-based derivatives to be used in hair care products overcoming traditional systems. Hence, lignin will be extracted from lignocellulosic materials by environmentally more efficient and sustainable procedures. The new derivatives prepared will not only add value to lignin as they will also have better conditioning properties. This project will allow the valorization of a biomass waste and the development of a material of high impact in the hair care industry offering an important launch for economic growth with the obtained products.

Institutions

Main Institutions

  • Universidade de Coimbra (UC)

Other Institutions

  • Instituto Mediterrâneo para a Agricultura, Ambiente e Desenvolvimento (MED/Uévora)

Funding 49.926,72 €

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Portugal

49.926,72 €