PROTEX

Research and digitalization of processes for obtaining eco-sustainable coatings for textiles.

Consortium:

ENSO
CETIM

OBJECTIVE:
PROTEX main objective is focused on obtaining new eco-sustainable coatings based on cellulose micro/nanofibers with antimicrobial, antiviral and/or hydrophobic functionalities for their application in textiles, mainly in sanitary and protective textiles. All this, under the premise of a digitalized process that allows online control of the quality of each stage developed to obtain the new bio-based coatings, as well as to study the implementation of the process at industrial level.

Documentation: IN852D 2021/1

Total budget: 400.688,06 €

Funding: This project is funded by the Agencia Gallega de Innovación under the 2021 call of the CONECTA COVID grant program. The grants awarded under this program have been funded by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) under the FEDER Galicia 2014-2020 operational program as part of the Union’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project is supported by the Vicepresidencia Primera y Consellería de Economía, Industria e Innovación.

2021 annuity progress:
ENSO has optimized the process of obtaining cellulose micro/nanoparticles from different types of cellulose plasticene, after an exhaustive study of the different cellulose plasticene available in the market. On the other hand, different modification reactions have been studied with the aim of providing the micro/nanoparticles obtained with hydrophobic and/or antimicrobial properties, such as cationization with quaternary amines or the use of silver nanoparticles in the case of antimicrobial properties and silanization with the aim of providing them with hydrophobic properties, obtaining promising results. Additionally, different coatings for tissues based on modified micro/nanocelluloses have been developed, applying them on sanitary tissues through different application techniques and, in this way, obtaining functional tissues.

2022 annuity progress:
ENSO has worked on the optimization of the process of obtaining cellulose micro/nanoparticles from cellulose plasticene of different origins, managing to obtain micro/nanoparticles of different types and qualities depending on the needs of the project. Likewise, we have continued studying different modification reactions to provide cellulose micro/nanoparticles with hydrophobic and/or anitmicrobial properties, with special interest in modification reactions such as cationization or silanization to provide them with both properties of interest. On the other hand, the process of obtaining new biocoatings and their application on different types of sanitary and protective fabrics has been optimized, in this way, obtaining new fabrics with hydrophobic and antimicrobial functionalities.

2023 annuity advances:
Throughout 2023 annuity, ENSO has worked on the micro/nanocellulose modification process optimisation with the aim of providing it with antimicrobial, antiviral and/or hydrophobic properties, with special emphasis on cationisation reactions using various cationising agents that allow to obtain interest properties. Furthermore, several coatings based on micro/nanocelluloses have been used on tissues and their applicability as healthcare fabrics has been demonstrated.