BIOEMERGER Project

Different strains, both bacterial and fungal, with proven polyurethane degradation capacity will be analysed and their potential to achieve degradative processes in flexible polyurethane foams will be exploited. The enzymes involved in these processes will be detected and studied.

Based on these microorganisms and enzymes, a process of recycling the foams by biocatalysis will be investigated so that, using new and more efficient solvents, the raw materials with which they were synthesised can be extracted and recovered from the foams.

In addition, other revalorisation methods will be developed based on the foams or the materials obtained after their biodegradation processes. In the agricultural sector, they will be tested as a substrate for crops native to the Region of Murcia, while in the energy sector, their application will be studied for the production of fuels by means of anaerobic digestion.