Title:
Biosilica-driven Innovation: A Valorization Approach to Circular Bio-based Materials
Author(s):
Gomes, F., Gomes, S., Oliveira, J., Ornelas, M., Gonçalves, J., Costa, P.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Agroindustrial residues are abundant, low-cost sources for high-value bio-based products. This work was developed within the PRIMED project (GA N°101135353, HORIZON-CL6-2023-CIRCBIO-01), which co-creates circular business models to integrate primary producers into bioeconomy value chains by enabling the valorization of waste and by-products. CeNTI’s Bio-silica Lab (Portugal) focuses on extracting and surface-tailoring silica from rice husk to produce value-added multifunctional particles. A circular valorization pathway that integrates these particles into electrospun polymer nanofibers is presented as a case study, validating their use in real scenarios. The silica recovered from rice husk was modified to confer antimicrobial activity, hydrophobicity and flame resistance, and the particles were incorporated into polymer solutions and processed into nanofibrous meshes by electrospinning after optimizing solution properties and processing parameters. By converting a passive filler into a tunable, multifunctional additive derived from a widely available residue, this study links circular-economy materials to high-value applications and reduces dependence on non-renewable additives.
Keywords:
recycling, rice husks, sustainability, waste, agroindustrial residues, industry, green chemistry, biomaterial
Topic:
Biomass Conversion to Biomaterials and Chemicals
Subtopic:
Processes for bio-materials, bio-polymers and bioplastics
Event:
34th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
6AO.9.1
Pages:
947 - 955
ISBN:
978-88-89407-27-1
Paper DOI:
10.5071/34thEUBCE2026-6AO.9.1
Price:
FREE
