RE-Fibre Project: ENTEG's Peter Deuss Joins European Effort to Revolutionize Construction Materials

Nine University of Groningen researchers have been awarded prestigious Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network grants. Among these recipients is professor Peter Deuss from the Engineering and Technology institute Groningen (ENTEG), who is partnering in the innovative RE-Fibre project.

The RE-Fibre project aims to revolutionize the construction sector by developing natural fiber-based products that reduce fossil fuel dependence and carbon dioxide emissions. The project's core objectives include:

• Enabling smart disassembly of biomass to yield cellulose fibers and lignin
• Applying green catalytic methods for chemical functionalization
• Reassembling materials to create fully recyclable bio-based composites

A key focus of RE-Fibre is to train 11 doctoral candidates, equipping them with an entrepreneurial and sustainability-oriented mindset. These future leaders will be skilled in circular engineering, green/lignin chemistry, new bio-based materials, and environmental systems science, positioning them to drive the green transition in Europe's construction sector.

The project brings together a strong consortium of academic and industry partners:

• Coordinator: University of Graz (Prof. Barta)
• Beneficiary partners: University of Groningen (Prof. Deuss), TNO, University Ca' Foscari Venezia, Université de Franche-Comté, and ETH Zürich
• Associate partners: NPSP, RenFuel, BASF, Anton Paar, Bcomp, and SCA

At ENTEG, in collaboration with TNO, two doctoral candidates will focus on developing chemically functionalized lignins for use as performance-enhancing fiber composite components. Their research will involve creating fractionation processes for end-of-life wood products and forestry residues to produce cellulose fibers and chemically tuned lignin fractions.