Ilona Leppänen - Two innovative cellulose-based approaches to tackle the plastic challenge

Описание: IMPACT Forum - Sustainability through innovative bio-based materials
April 25 2024

Ilona Leppänen, VTT Technical Research Center of Finland Ltd
Two innovative cellulose-based approaches to tackle the plastic challenge: Controlled biodegradation of cellulose materials and novel methods for microplastic analytics

Ilona Leppänen works as a Research Scientist at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland developing novel bio-based and biodegradable materials from wood such as fibres, films, and membranes. She recently graduated with a D.Sc (Tech.) from Aalto University, Bioproduct Technology, and her thesis was titled “Inherent and Tailored Properties of Cellulose – A Versatile Toolbox for Materials Engineering”. The topic was related to cellulosic materials, which have significant potential in creating a sustainable bioeconomy helping address issues like plastic pollution and the need for sufficient material resources. More specifically, the thesis studied the impact of chemical modifications on cellulose’s biodegradability and demonstrated how cellulose can be used to tackle the microplastic problem by providing novel methods for microplastic analytics.