CARDoon valorisation by InteGrAted biorefiNery

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:

The development of technologies for an efficient processing of biomass into a spectrum of marketable bioproducts is essential for the setting-up of viable biorefineries. Biorefineries, defined as the sustainable counterpart of the petroleum refineries, are believed to leverage the turnabout from linear to circular (bio)economy. In this scenario, the project CARDIGAN is focused on the use of renewable raw materials typical of Mediterranean Region that can grow also on marginal lands, Cardoon Cynara cardunculus L. In CARDIGAN project different parts of cardoon (seeds, leaves and roots) will be processed by enzymes, microbial whole-cell biocatalysts or environmentally friendly catalysts to obtain biopolymers, plasticizers and bioactive molecules for the development of innovative packaging materials.

KEYWORDS: Circular Economy, Sustainability, Biopolymers

DIPARTIMENTO: DSCTM

AREA PROGETTUALE: Chimica e Tecnologie dei Materiali

ISTITUTO ESECUTORE DEL PROGETTO: IPCB

SEDE IPCB COINVOLTA: POZZUOLI

ENTE FINANZIATORE: MUR

DURATA: 2019 – 2023

SCIENTIFIC REFERENT FOR IPCB: Gabriella Santagata

IPCB TEAM MEMBERS: Marialaura Di Lorenzo, Gennaro Scarinzi

PARTNERS:

Università di Napoli Federico II (Unina), Università di Milano Bicocca (Unimib), Università di Trieste (Units)

WEB: https://cardiganproject.it/project

CONTACT:

Gabriella Santagata, gabriella.santagata(-at-)cnr.it