A superstrong, decarbonizing structural material enabled by microbe-assisted cell wall engineering via a...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Sustainable Engineering

Background:

• Wood is a sustainable resource with potential for high-performance structural materials.
• Ancient buried wood demonstrates natural wood transformation under specific environmental conditions.
• Advanced engineering requires lightweight, high-strength, and sustainable materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid biomechanochemical process for transforming natural wood into artificial ancient buried wood (Bio-Strong-Wood).
• To enhance the mechanical properties of wood for structural applications.
• To assess the environmental and economic viability of the developed material.

Main Methods:

• Biotreatment to depolymerize lignin and soften wood cell walls.
• Mechanochemical treatment to create a strong network of hydrogen and covalent bonds.
• Life cycle and technoeconomic assessments for carbon footprint and cost-effectiveness.

Main Results:

• The developed Bio-Strong-Wood exhibits significantly enhanced mechanical strength (539 ± 21.7 MPa), surpassing SAE 304 stainless steel.
• The material achieves negative carbon emissions (1.17 kg CO2 eq/kg).
• The process is economically competitive and environmentally sustainable.

Conclusions:

• Bio-Strong-Wood offers a high-performance, sustainable alternative to conventional structural materials.
• The biomechanochemical approach provides a rapid and efficient wood modification method.
• This innovation contributes to decarbonization efforts in the materials industry.