Subventions et des contributions :

Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019).

Version française disponiblex000D
Soil erosion on slopes is a natural phenomenon caused by the rainwater draining down the slope. Covering thex000D
slope with a protective layer of vegetation can stop loosening soil particles due to rain and preventing themx000D
from being washed down the slope. Erosion Control Blanket (ECBVerdyol) is a full line manufacturer ofx000D
erosion control products, hydraulic mulches, and revegetation products. The company seeks to enter a newx000D
business that would supply a lignin-based binder system to supplement ECB's sprayable mulch products.x000D
ECBVerdyol does not have a binder system that is needed to keep the mulch systems in place, especially onx000D
sloped earth when exposed to rain to prevent erosion. To improve the internal bonding of mulch, bindingx000D
agents can be added. The best commercial product that is being used in mulches is based on expensivex000D
petro-chemically derived components. Therefore, the objective of this proposal is to develop a binder systemx000D
based on bio-renewable components such as lignin and glycerol.x000D
It is proposed that low and high ash content lignin made by West Fraser in Hinton, AB and supplied byx000D
ECBVerdyol will be used and mixed with a natural plasticizer (glycerol). Mixture of water, glycerol, and ligninx000D
will be tested for viscosity and tackiness. Blends of the above mixture with mulch will be tested for staticx000D
friction by measuring the angle of repose. The experimental results of the tested mixtures will be compared tox000D
mulches mixed with a commercial product containing FINN E-Tack as a reference. The results of thex000D
investigations will provide data for ECBVerdyol with regard to the lignin-plasticizer-mulch ratio and will allowx000D
the company to replace petrochemical-based components such as FINN E-Tack with the environmentallyx000D
friendly lignin-based binder. The experimental results obtained from this project will be essential to help thex000D
company to make a decision on an economical scale-up production of a high-tack binder for the mulch systemsx000D
based on bio-renewable components.