NoPFA

Acronym

NoPFA

Full name

Sustainable Products and Processes for the Tanning Industry through the Use of Nanomaterials to Replace Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) for Waterproofing.

Partners

Kemia tau Srl

Conceria di Urgnano Srl

Technologies

  • Production of nanomaterials with controlled properties and related scale-up;
  • Technical knowledge in the production of chemical auxiliaries for leather treatment
  • Know-how of tanning and finishing processes for leathers

Implementation times

24 months

Project manager

Antonino Di Salvo

Financing program

PRISM-E LINE B

Objective of the project

With regard to the most significant environmental issues, the Italian and European leather industry must address the problem of replacing perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFAs) currently used for leather waterproofing. The NoPFA project aims to develop innovative waterproofing products and processes for the tanning industry based on safe, low-cost nanoparticles (NPs), which will be developed through the collaboration between KEMIA TAU, a chemical company producing tanning auxiliaries, CONCERIA DI URGNANO, and research groups from the University of Turin with expertise in nanomaterials and life-cycle analysis related to their use

RICADUTE PREVISTE SULLA COMPETITIVITÀ DELLE IMPRESE COINVOLTE

Achieving pilot plant production of waterproofing NPs will enable KEMIA TAU to add to its portfolio an exclusive product suitable for industrial-scale use. In fact, waterproofing sprays declared to be NP-based are available on the market, but only for application on leather items used by individual consumers (footwear, accessories). It is clear that such products cannot solve the problem of environmental dispersion caused by the use of PFAs at the industrial level.

The project will enable URGNANO to develop know-how related to the industrial-scale application of nanomaterials with waterproofing properties already described in the scientific literature of the sector, but so far tested only at laboratory scale.

COLLABORAZIONE ATTIVATA, SIA TRA IMPRESE CHE CON ORGANISMI DI RICERCA

KEMIA TAU and URGNANO: technological partnership, based on supplier–client relationships, also customized (WP1, WP3, WP5, WP6, WP7).

KEMIA TAU and the Department of Chemistry of UNITO: collaboration for the development and characterization of nanomaterials (WP2, WP3).

KEMIA TAU, URGNANO, and the Department of Management of UNITO: development of environmental management systems, Life-Cycle Analysis, and Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (WP6, WP7).

RUOLO SVOLTO DAL POLO (anche in prospettiva)

  1. Support in verifying the consistency of the project idea with the CLEVER Strategic Research Agenda
  2. KT is interested in CLEVER’s expertise in products, materials, and clean technologies, as well as in evaluating offers for environmental process/product audits and certifications;
  3. KT sees CLEVER as a valuable environment in which to seek potential synergies with other companies operating in the fields of plasma nanotechnologies and Green Energy.

MODALITÀ DI DIFFUSIONE DEI RISULTATI

The partners plan to disseminate the project results, motivating the team to transfer the experience gained among the project members and to disseminate the results within the technical-scientific and industrial community. Intellectual property rights are specified in the Consortium Agreement, along with the definition of background knowledge and the partners’ access rights to the results, during and after the project. The dissemination of results will be coordinated by the project leader.

Thematic areas

  • Product eco-design and sustainability of processes