Projects

Wood is Estonia's most important bio-based raw material, the skilful processing of which creates high added value, carbon binding products. Today, Estonian universities do not have a unified action plan and infrastructure for coordinated research and development (R&D) and for offering industrial solutions throughout the entire value chain. Therefore, the infrastructure is created for linking 14 structural units of 8 institutes of 3 universities. This synergy enables to carry out interdisciplinary, high quality R&D activities of wood valorisation. The infrastructure creates new opportunities for training young researchers and provides a strong base for international cooperation. An integrated contact point will be created for effective marketing of services of the infrastructure. R&D of the infrastructure covers mechanical, chemical, biochemical and thermochemical valorisation of primary and secondary wood and can take the Estonian wood science and industry to a new development level.

Cellulose is the most common biopolymer in the world, which can replace fossil-based plastics and fibers. However, cellulose-based plastics only account for 0.2% and man-made fibers for 1% of the world's production of plastics and non-natural textile fibers. Cellulose needs chemical modification to make these products. Until now, industry has been limited by environmental impact and cost of the process. Cellulose is also the most important biomaterial for Estonia, but industrial cellulose chemistry is limited here. At the same time, this industry gives the highest added value to cellulose. As the biorefineries, output of which is cellulose, are vigorously developing in Estonia, this project develops technology of reactive extrusion, with which cellulose can be valorized in a sustainable manner using residues from production of vegetable oils. The project strengthens cooperation between companies and academy, increases competence in the field, and contributes to academic succession.

In engineered wood production, the wood goes through many process steps, which affect both the wood and the final product quality. Holistic studies on the co-effect of these processes on adhesive bond quality are lacking. Despite a 20 year old theoretical basis to understand poor adhesion and adhesive testing variability, the tools to understand the impact on surface defects on bond quality are underdeveloped, resulting in uncontrolled bonding conditions, high variances, and slow technical progress. In addition, the fire resistance of engineered wood structures is investigated. Design and assessment methods are improved, and their scope widened to new innovative wood products based on experimental studies and thermo-mechanical simulations. This will accelerate the implementation of bio-based adhesives, improving the competitiveness and safety of the engineered wood products and promoting the utilization of low-quality wood species.

The project provides a comprehensive assessment of Estonia’s wood resources and the technological pathways for their high-value valorisation. It supports national goals to expand the bio-based economy and advance climate-neutral development. The project evaluates the availability of wood suitable for mechanical, microbiological, and chemical processing up to 2050, analyses relevant TRL 6–9 technologies, and identifies development directions that fit Estonia’s resource base, workforce capacity, and strategic priorities. The study maps domestic and potentially importable wood resources, considering species, assortments, environmental restrictions, and an annual harvesting volume of 10 million m³. It assesses resource availability across different forest owner groups, including the State Forest Management Centre (RMK), private forest owners, and industry-related large owners. It provides a concise overview of chemical and microbiological wood valorisation technologies and related product groups across technology generations. The analysis evaluates suitable fractionation and end-product manufacturing technologies for Estonia, taking into account resource scale, supply chain feasibility, human capital, investment needs, and climate policy obligations, including CO₂ sequestration and LULUCF methodology. It also examines additional resource requirements—such as other bio-based feedstocks, water and energy demand, and infrastructure needs—arising from the selected technological pathways. The project reviews current and future demand for engineering, chemical, and wood chemistry experts, drawing on OSKA analyses, and assesses laboratory and R&D infrastructure needs in connection with the establishment of the Wood Valorisation Focus Centre and Metrosert’s Bio-refinery Development Centre. The results provide an integrated overview of Estonia’s strategic options for wood valorisation and offer recommendations for building a competitive, high-value wood-based value chain that strengthens the national bioeconomy and supports long-term climate objectives.

Sustainable thermoplastic polymers are developed and investigated to partly or fully replace non-renewable-resources-based materials for melt processing technologies. Cellulose appears to be a nearly unlimited renewable resource for polymeric materials. Discovery of dissolution processes of cellulose in ionic liquids opens several new routes for functionalization. Thermoplastic cellulose derivatives can be prepared without use of plasticizers, by attaching long-chain ester branches to the macromolecule of cellulose. Effect of functionalization agents and conditions in medium of ionic liquids on rheology, crystallization behaviour, morphology and mechanical properties of the novel thermoplastic materials is investigated. A laboratory line for pilot production of the novel thermoplastic materials will be started. Producing and processing parameters of the novel materials will be clarified for further commodity applications.

The project builds on the results and novel technology developed in BioStyrene project (ER30) and focuses on extending these results

In the course of the project, the possibilities of using various materials produced by the chemical valorization of cellulose for the collection of electrical energy using the triboelectric method are investigated. In the Laboratory of Biopolymer Technology of Tallinn University of Technology, cellulose derivatives are prepared and nanofibrous non-woven materials are produced from them by electrospinning. The main physical properties of non-woven materials are determined. Project partner RISE constructs triboelectric devices from the non-woven materials and evaluates their ability to produce electricity.