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The project, led by the Paper Engineering Research Group (CELBIOTECH) at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), aims to obtain different subproducts from the waste generated during industrial hemp cultivation, also known as hemp fibre. The proposed processes are technologies already used in biorefineries and the paper industry but with different raw materials.
Industrial hemp cultivation has significantly increased in Catalonia in recent years. Approximately 50% of the crop is composed of straw or hemp fibre, which represents waste that makes its valorisation essential to reduce its wastage. The hemp fibre is made up of 50-60% cellulose, 20% hemicelluloses, and 20% lignin.
Currently, subproducts are obtained from various sources of lignocellulose (mainly composed of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin). However, the potential of the hemp fibre in the entire biorefining and paper manufacturing process remains underexplored.
The innovation of the project lies in obtaining all these subproducts from industrial hemp waste, which is growing in Catalonia, and therefore, its wastage needs to be reduced.
RevCan aims to demonstrate the valorisation of hemp fibre, by extracting its different components through sustainable processes to create biodegradable subproducts with high added value, such as xylooligosaccharides (XOS), which have prebiotic and antioxidant properties, lignin, with antimicrobial and antioxidant applications, and nanocellulose, an innovative material with applications in the packaging and paper industries.
The subproducts developed in the project will help address the current climate emergency and advance the transition towards bioeconomy and circular economy. The expected benefits include:
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- Sequential extraction of lignocellulose components within the current biorefinery concept.
- Obtaining emerging subproducts with applications in different sectors: food, paper, packaging, and wrapping.
- Reducing agricultural waste, particularly hemp fibre waste, and finding higher added-value applications.
- Contributing to mitigating climate change, bioeconomy, and circular economy.
Budget and Funding
The project has a total budget of €50,000, funded through the Rural Development Programme of Catalonia 2014-2022 by the Department of Climate Action, Food, and Rural Agenda (Government of Catalonia) and will be developed over 22 months (February 2024 - June 2026).
Action under the PAC 2023-2027 Strategic Plan co-funded by:
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