Integrated production of nanocellulose fibres, lignin, and cellulase from agricultural wastes for use in sustainable food packaging materials

Agricultural waste, such as cereal straw, is a valuable resource for producing high-value products due to its abundance and renewable nature. However, traditional methods for extracting cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) can cause environmental issues and produce low-quality fiber. Additionally, the sugars co-produced with CNFs are often unsuitable for further applications.

In the "Sustain-Pack+" project, an environmentally friendly process is being used to produce CNFs, lignin, and cellulase from cereal straw. This process employs green solvents like ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents, combined with ultrasound, plasma technology, subcritical water, and enzymatic hydrolysis.

Key aspects of the project include:

- Producing CNFs and assessing their suitability for industrial applications, such as sustainable food packaging.

- Evaluating lignin for its potential as a renewable bio-based material.

- Utilizing co-produced sugars to create the enzyme cellulase, enhancing the process's sustainability.

This integrated approach is expected to offer an environmentally benign alternative to conventional methods with no chemical waste. Successfully utilizing spent sugars for enzyme production could lead to innovative ways to integrate CNFs and lignin production with cost-effective enzyme production in sustainable industrial setups.