Scientists use invasive plant waste to create eco-friendly hair conditioner
The researchers aim to create a hair conditioner from agroforestry waste and invasive species.
From left to right: Solange Magalhães, Carla Varela, Graça Rasteiro, Catarina Fernandes and Luís Alves
© DR
English version: Diana Taborda
Consumers’ interest in eco-friendly products is rapidly increasing, and industry is thus investing in more sustainable production methods.
Following this trend, a research team of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the UC (DEQ-FCTUC), is developing a hair conditioner from agroforestry and invasive species waste.
Luís Alves, researcher at the Chemical Process Engineering and Forest Products Research Centre (CIEPQPF) explains that “the project “Lignin for hair” aims to develop new lignin-based cationic derivatives to be used as conditioners in hair products, as an alternative to traditional hair conditioning products. The lignin will be extracted from lignocellulosic materials by using more efficient and sustainable processes”, further adding that lignin is the second most common type of organic polymers in lignocellulosic materials, such as wood, and works as a "glue" for all the components of these materials.
the research team says that "although it is still in its early stages, the project already shows some positive progress. "We already have results related to the fractionation process using sustainable solvents, based on the concept of circular economy, since one of them is obtained from wood".
To get to the final product, the UC scientists say that “we will need to "extract and characterize the lignin from agroforestry or invasive species waste by exploring organic solvents with natural ingredients. In a second phase, the extracted lignin will be chemically modified in order to interact with the hair fibres and produce the conditioning effect. The third phase will be dedicated to the evaluation of the product's efficacy”.
The researchers believe that this product "can have a major impact on the hair care industry, as it will allow to replace ingredients obtained from non-renewable raw materials, such as oil, as well as others obtained from raw materials needed in human and animal nutrition".
The project will run for 18 months and is funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Sciences and Technology.