Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

The proposal describes the bilateral Canada-Brazil research collaboration involving both a Canadian (EcoSynthetix Corporation or ""ECO"") and a Brazilian (Suzano Papel e Celulose or ""Suzano"") company as well as top academic research institutes in both geographic regions: The University of Waterloo (UW) in Canada, and Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) and the Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano) in Brazil. The goal of this proposal is to develop advanced sustainable materials by utilizing agro-derived biopolymers and hardwood based materials, to enhance the properties and to produce new value-added renewable products. The underlying strategy is to recombine the properties of nature's most abundantly produced biopolymers, cellulose, starch and lignin, via integrated design concepts. This proposal outlines a research plan for three closely related sub-projects to develop advanced sustainable materials using agro-based engineered bionanopolymers and hardwood-based pulp fibres, cellulose nanofibres and lignin. The objective is to utilize biobased raw materials instead of non-sustainable petroleum-based feedstocks. Details of the research plans will be described under the following strategic sub-projects: -Project 1: Performance Enhanced Hardwood Pulp Products -Project 2: Moldable Hardwood Pulp Composites -Project 3: Hardwood Lignin-based Resins for Wood Composites In the competitive forestry sector, the creation of new advanced sustainable materials will lead to greater utilization of agro- and hardwood-based materials and enable EcoSynthetix and Suzano to develop new advanced products with vast market potential. The research plan described in this proposal will enhance industry-academia interactions between Canada and Brazil, and develop value-added, forest-derived materials that are positioned to generate employment and profound economic impact in both Canada and in Brazil.