Purdue consortium targets hemp product development
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A new consortium has launched with the goal of advancing the research and development of hemp-based products developed at Purdue University.
The university said the Purdue Hemp Products Utilization Consortium, or H-PUC, aims to implement scale-up and agricultural experimental trials, fine tune and optimize technology, and develop marketing strategies to reach prospective customers.
The consortium is being led by Senay Simsek, head of Purdue’s Department of Food Science.
“Our short-term aims will be to leverage funds, test pilot-scale production and evaluate pilot production conditions,” Simsek said in a news release. “Our long-term plans include scaling up of production, partnering with companies with intellectual property, customizing materials for specific applications and developing marketing strategies.”
The group’s initial focus on be on biodegradable superabsorbent materials made from hemp hurd and hemp bast developed in the Purdue College of Agriculture, the university said.
Simsek developed the materials in collaboration with Marguerite Bolt from Purdue’s Department of Agronomy and former Purdue researcher Laila Hossain.
“Hemp hurds, found in the inner woody core of the hemp stalk, are highly absorbent due to their high cellulose content and low lignin levels. This makes them an excellent alternative for superabsorbent applications,” Simsek said said. “Hemp bast, the fibrous outer layer, while less absorbent, provides strength and durability.”
The Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization has applied for a patent for the hemp-based materials. Simsek said the consortium will allow her team to focus on environmental and economic sustainability while developing these products.
“Through this consortium, my team will be able to scale up our research on hemp-based superabsorbent materials, refine the technology and explore new applications,” she said. “This collaborative effort not only accelerates our ability to bring environmentally friendly products to market but also strengthens Purdue’s leadership in industrial hemp research.”
She said the group’s next steps include optimizing pilot-scale production and partnering with companies on commercialization.
Pictured above, from left: Bernie Engel, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture at Purdue University; Jona Williams of Momentum Management; Marguerite Bolt, Purdue Extension specialist; Jamie Petty of the Midwest Hemp Council; Senay Simsek, head of Purdue’s Department of Food Science; Jake Bergman of Consolidated Carbon One; Tim Neal of Iconoclast Industries; and Ronald Turco, associate dean and director of agricultural research and graduate education in the College of Agriculture