24 Jan Andaltec will analyse degradation on bio-based compound materials from weathered olive grove waste supported by Jaén’s Provincial Government
In the aftermath of the positive results stemming from the European LIFE CompOlive project, which developed a bioplastic material mostly made up by olive pruning waste fiber, Andaltec Technological Centre is conducting the R&D Demacolivex project. This initiative is aimed at analysing degradation on bio-based compound materials originated from weathered olive grove waste in order to obtain a predictive model on material performance. This project is entirely funded with €30,000 by Jaén’s Provincial Government in an effort to valorise olive grove byproducts.
The project’s main goal is to analyse degradation of materials obtained from waste, mainly from that waste originated in the olive sector (bio-based and recycled plastics, olive grove pruning, olive, pit ash…). Andaltec researchers are already developing new compound materials using bio-based or recycled polymeric matrices, reinforced with waste from the olive sector. Besides, they are also analyzing their resistance to degradation.
This project’s impact is expected to fall on two strategic economic fields for the province of Jaén: plastics and agrifood. Hence, the initiative involves the manufacture of samples of several materials, as well as their characterization and mathematical modelling in order to create a predictive performance model that would avoid the necessity for actual degradation testing, which is costly and time consuming.
Moreover, Andaltec hopes that Demacolivex wil be very Beneficial for Jaén’s olive farmers, since it will entail a boost on circular economy and waste revalorisation thanks to the production of bio-based materials and polymeric bio-compounds with a lower content of elements extracted from non-renewable resources. On the other hand, the project will also benefit the relevant plastics industrial sector in the province of Jaén, since it will allow them to start working on the field of compound material performance. Hence, Demacolivex will help to align Jaén’s industrial sector with the new European strategies intended to foster a sustainable industry focused on the Circular Economy.