Bio-materiale per l’edilizia in micelio da un substrato ottenuto dagli agrumi

The construction sector is one of the largest “consumers” of raw materials in the world. Bio-composite insulation materials contribute to reduce the environmental footprint of buildings, which today represents 40% of total energy consumption. The following research aims to evaluate the use of alternative building materials to those currently used, characterized by a high environmental impact. Sustainable composites that use renewable materials and provide better end of life options are of great interest to industry. This paper describes an investigative study into manufacturing approaches for a bio composite material consisting of natural fiber reinforcement and agricultural waste cores, bound together by a fungal mycelium matrix that grows in and around everything. Three different mixing protocols with two substrate materials, including orange by-product and wood fibers were tested to produce an innovative fungal mycelium-based biofoam. The use of orange by-products as a mycelium growth substrate has never been evaluated. The possibility of making samples using mycelium as a binder and citrus by-products as a fiber, maintaining the natural composition of the formulation, is demostrated.