The InnoFiber Research Lab mission is addressing urgent global challenges related to environmental sustainability, resource conservation, and the development of materials with a reduced ecological footprint. This interdisciplinary scientific field encompasses a broad spectrum of research topics, including:
Objectives
1. Development of new processes and technologies for extracting natural fibers from plant-based raw materials.
2. Production of new natural fibers using conventional spinning processes as well as electrospinning, wet spinning, and extrusion.
3. Exploration of new methods for recycling and waste management, specifically the development of technologies for transforming waste (textiles, plants, marine materials) into new sustainable materials based on circular economy concepts.
4. Development of more eco-friendly functionalization and finishing processes with reduced environmental impact.
5. Conducting studies on biodegradability, environmental impact, and life cycle analysis of the produced materials.
Applications
Research in these areas contributes to the development of innovative solutions based on natural fibers and sustainable materials with a wide range of applications, from the pharmaceutical industry to the automotive sector. For instance, materials developed from the mentioned topics can be used in:
1. Development of implantable and biocompatible structures for localized tumor treatment, orthopedic pathology treatment, tissue engineering, and localized drug delivery systems.
2. Production of new natural and recycled yarns for the development of advanced, multifunctional, and intelligent textiles.
3. Composites and biocomposites for the footwear, automotive, aerospace, and architectural industries.
4. Multifunctional fibrous structures for personal protective equipment.
5. Food packaging, among others.
Positioning
In this context, the Natural Fibers and Sustainable Materials research line at the Textile Science and Technology Center of the School of Engineering at the University of Minho is of paramount importance. This research area is considered a strategic future area for both the Textile Science and Technology Center (2C2T) and the School of Engineering at UMinho. For 2C2T, the future strategy involves developing new materials and processes, including technology and process optimization in emerging areas related to sustainability and the circular economy, innovative and sustainable materials, new fibers based on natural waste, and new processes for extracting and treating natural fibers. According to the strategic plan of EEUM, in the coming years, the aim is to address environmental/climate challenges, sustainability, and the circular economy by leading the development and implementation of sustainable technologies, applying sustainable design principles in engineering products, promoting efficient natural resource management, encouraging the circular economy and product life cycle design, innovating in waste management, utilizing environmental monitoring and data analysis, and raising environmental awareness.
People
Group Leaders
RAUL FANGUEIRO
GROUP LEADER
Ph.D. | Integrated
Team
Ana Catarina Silva
POSTDOC
Ph.D. | Integrated
Research Team:
Ana Isabel Ribeiro
RESEARCH ASSISTANT WITHOUT EXCLUSIVITY (PROJECT)
Ph.D. | Integrated
Research Team:
Diana Alves
RESEARCH FELLOW (PH.D. STUDENT)
Master’s Degree
Research Team:
Diego Morais Chaves
POSTDOC
Ph.D. | Integrated
Elina Margarida Marinho
RESEARCH ASSISTANT WITHOUT EXCLUSIVITY
Ph.D. | Integrated
Research Team:
Joana Araújo
RESEARCH ASSISTANT WITHOUT EXCLUSIVITY (PROJECT)
Ph.D. | Integrated
Research Team:
Renato Guimarães
RESEARCH ASSISTANT WITHOUT EXCLUSIVITY
Ph.D. | Integrated
Rui Sousa
RESEARCH ASSISTANT WITHOUT EXCLUSIVITY
Ph.D. | Integrated
Sofia Maria Soares da Costa
RESEARCH ASSISTANT WITHOUT EXCLUSIVITY (PROJECT)
Ph.D. | Integrated
Research Team:
Tiago Azevedo
RESEARCH FELLOW (PH.D. STUDENT)
Master’s Degree
Research Team:
Vasco Pontes
RESEARCH FELLOW (PH.D. STUDENT)
Master’s Degree
Research Team:
Veronica Rocha
RESEARCH FELLOW (PH.D. STUDENT)
Master’s Degree
Research Team:
Projects
BE@T: BIOECONOMIA PARA TÊXTIL E VESTUÁRIO
TOTAL INVESTMENT: €137,931,727.66
The be@t project will contribute to the creation and consolidation of a truly innovative, sustainable, and circular National Textile and Clothing Industry, through the development of traceable textile products and materials that are of biological origin, renewable, and have better environmental credentials, without affecting their performance levels.
OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of the be@t project is the creation and consolidation of a truly innovative, sustainable, and circular National Textile and Clothing Industry.
BIOSHOES
TOTAL INVESTMENT: €72,715,508.31
The BioShoes4All project includes 70 partners and is divided into 5 pillars of intervention. These pillars are organized around concrete objectives, aiming for new materials (bio and eco), products, processes, technologies, or services, structured into 23 measures (M).
2C2T is part of pillar 3, called circular economy, which aims to develop and demonstrate solutions for the valorization of the main types of production waste from the cluster and post-consumption studies. This pillar intends to increase circularity in production processes along the value chains and industrial symbioses. 2C2T is involved in two measures of pillar 3: – M.3.2.1: Management and recycling models for the circular economy; and M.3.2.2: Post-consumer footwear recycling.
OBJECTIVES
The BioShoes4All project aims to innovate and strengthen the footwear sector for a sustainable bioeconomy and circular economy. The goal is to reduce the environmental footprint of the sector by promoting new materials (bio and eco), producing durable and circular footwear, implementing industrial pilot lines, and new advanced production technologies.
BLUEBIO PBA – PACTO DA BIOECONOMIA AZUL
TOTAL INVESTMENT: €133,084,957.80
Advocating for a new sustainable, innovative, and decarbonizing paradigm that sees the ocean as a solution to the challenge of global terrestrial resource scarcity, and bringing together various national industries, the PBA aims to develop new products, processes, and services from the incorporation of blue bioeconomy goods into new or existing value chains, with a positive impact on the environment, consumer life, and national exports.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the PBA are the development of new textile structures from marine waste and resources and the development of new dyes and functional finishes, as well as the treatment of textile industry effluents using algae and marine-origin bacteria.
GIATEX
TOTAL INVESTMENT: €18,141,273.21
Textile finishing processes, also known as wet processes, are notorious for consuming large amounts of water, a resource that is becoming increasingly scarce. To address the challenges faced by textile finishing companies regarding intensive water consumption, the GIATEX project has been initiated, focusing on optimizing the use of this resource in finishing processes.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of GIATEX is to develop a set of tools that enable companies to reduce specific water consumption (by using less water-intensive finishing technologies and adopting treatment technologies that allow water reuse) and simultaneously support decisions on the final destination of the water (through the integration of monitoring and process control systems).
GREENAUTO
INDIA
TOTAL INVESTMENT: RAUL FANGUEIRO
The project aims to develop filtration systems produced by electrospinning.
LUSITANO
TOTAL INVESTMENT: €111,481,160.20
LUSITANO is an initiative aimed at boosting the reindustrialization of the Textile and Clothing Industry (ITV) in Portugal by creating industrial capacity for the production of yarns from recycled and natural fibers, enabling the manufacturing of new and innovative value-added textile and clothing products. Additionally, the project aims to promote the competitive transformation of the sector through research and development of intelligent systems, aligned with the paradigms of Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things, as well as to develop advanced systems for the treatment and reuse of effluents to reduce water resource consumption.
OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of LUSITANO are to enhance the quality of recycled yarns by increasing the proportion of recycled fibers, especially from post-industrial waste (pre-consumption). Moreover, it aims to develop methods for removing elastane without using environmentally harmful organic solvents.
Selected Publications
ACTIVE NATURAL-BASED FILMS FOR FOOD PACKAGING APPLICATIONS: THE COMBINED EFFECT OF CHITOSAN AND NANOCELLULOSE
Costa, S. M., Ferreira, D. P., Teixeira, P., Ballesteros, L. F., Teixeira, J. A., & Fangueiro, R. (2021). Active natural-based films for food packaging applications: The combined effect of chitosan and nanocellulose. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 177, 241-251.
EXTRACTION, CHARACTERIZATION AND PROPERTIES EVALUATION OF PINEAPPLE LEAF FIBERS FROM AZORES PINEAPPLE
Chaves, D. M., Araújo, J. C., Gomes, C. V., Gonçalves, S. P., Fangueiro, R., & Ferreira, D. P. (2024). Extraction, characterization and properties evaluation of pineapple leaf fibers from Azores pineapple. Heliyon, 10(4).
IMPROVING TEXTILE CIRCULAR ECONOMY THROUGH BANANA FIBERS FROM THE LEAVES CENTRAL RIB: EFFECT OF DIFFERENT EXTRACTION METHODS
Gomes, C. V., Araújo, J. C., Chaves, D. M., Fangueiro, R., & Ferreira, D. P. (2024). Improving textile circular economy through banana fibers from the leaves central rib: effect of different extraction methods. Food and Bioproducts Processing.
MULTIFUNCTIONAL NATURAL FIBERS: THE POTENTIAL OF CORE SHELL MGO–SIO2 NANOPARTICLES
Araújo, J. C., Teixeira, P., Fangueiro, R., & Ferreira, D. P. (2022). Multifunctional natural fibers: the potential of core shell MgO–SiO2 nanoparticles. Cellulose, 29(10), 5659-5676.
THE POTENTIAL OF ALGAE AS A SOURCE OF CELLULOSE AND ITS DERIVATIVES FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Machado, B., Costa, S. M., Costa, I., Fangueiro, R., & Ferreira, D. P. (2024). The potential of algae as a source of cellulose and its derivatives for biomedical applications. Cellulose, 31(6), 3353-3376.
THE POTENTIAL OF ELECTROSPUN MEMBRANES IN THE TREATMENT OF TEXTILE WASTEWATER: A REVIEW
Rocha, J. M., Sousa, R. P., Fangueiro, R., & Ferreira, D. P. (2024). The Potential of Electrospun Membranes in the Treatment of Textile Wastewater: A Review. Polymers, 16(6), 801.
UPCYCLING OF INDUSTRIAL FOOTWEAR WASTE INTO NONWOVEN FIBROUS STRUCTURES WITH THERMAL AND ACOUSTIC INSULATION PROPERTIES
Alves, D. I., Carvalho, Ó., Fernandes, N. A., Cosentino, L. T., Junior, A. C. P., Fangueiro, R., & Ferreira, D. P. (2024). Upcycling of industrial footwear waste into nonwoven fibrous structures with thermal and acoustic insulation properties. Journal of Environmental Management, 363, 121363.
VALORIZATION OF TEXTILE WASTE: NON-WOVEN STRUCTURES AND COMPOSITES
Alves, D. I., Barreiros, M., Fangueiro, R., & Ferreira, D. P. (2024). Valorization of textile waste: non-woven structures and composites. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 12, 1365162.
