Researchers from TUT win the Materials Technology Invention Award
Researchers from Tampere University of Technology (TUT) have received the Aalto University Materials Technology Invention Award for developing an economical, direct leaching method for cellulose.The invention was developed by researchers Marianna Vehviläinen, Taina Kamppuri and Maija Järventausta and Professor Pertti Nousiainen from the Department of Materials Science.
The award was given out on 13 January 2012 and amounts to EUR 20,000.
The idea of the award-winning method is to treat cellulose with enzymes, mix it with alkali and then freeze and melt it to achieve an alkaline solution. The process is environmentally friendly and requires no harmful chemicals, unlike the viscose method whereby cellulose is treated, among others, with carbon disulphide. The invention represents the modern cleantech approach and is simple, ingenuous and economical.
The invention has significant commercial potential, as it is closely related to forest industry that is of great national importance in Finland. The invention lends itself to several industrial applications.
The purpose of the Materials Technology Invention Award is to encourage the development of new inventions in an academic setting.
The award criteria include the simplicity, ingenuity, national impact and commercial potential of the invention.
The principal financier of the award is the Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation. Other financiers include Beneq Oy, Okmetic Oyj, Patenttitoimisto Papula-Nevinpat, Reddal Oy, Spinverse Oy, Patenttitoimisto Seppo Laine as well as Aalto Centre for entrepreneurship and UMK Center for New Materials based at Aalto University.
Further information:
Professor Pertti Nousiainen
TUT, Department of Materials Science
Tel. +358 (0) 400 632 051
pertti.nousiainen (at) tut.fi