3D Bioprinting of lignocellulosic materials with controlled micro architecture

Other conference contribution, 2014

Wood derived biopolymers offer an environmentally friendly substitute to petroleum based synthetic polymers. Due to strong molecular interactions between wood biopolymers the dissolution and further processing is however challenging. Ionic liquids are powerful solvents that can be used to dissolve entire wood and fractionate it into wood biopolymers. Dissolution of cellulose and hemicelluloses is possible in ionic liquids such as 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EmimAc) and does not cause significant degradation of the polymer chains. We have showed that the dissolved cellulose and hemicelluloses can be regenerated into desired shape by coagulation. Using 3D Bioprinting process we were able to fabricate complex 3D structures from wood derived biopolymers dissolved in ionic liquid. A wide range of processing parameters has been optimized in order to achieve 3D structures with controlled micro architecture.