Senay Simsek is H-PUC\u2019s primary investigator. She is a professor in and the head of Purdue\u2019s Department of Food Science<\/a>. She also holds the Dean\u2019s Chair in Food Science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cH-PUC is addressing global needs and the challenges of growing populations and climate change through sustainable solutions,\u201d she said. \u201cWhile our initial focus is superabsorbent materials, our vision extends beyond this. We aim to broaden our scope over time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simsek said H-PUC has several short-term and long-term goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur short-term aims will be to leverage funds, test pilot-scale production and evaluate pilot production conditions,\u201d she said. \u201cOur long-term plans include scaling up of production, partnering with companies with intellectual property, customizing materials for specific applications and developing marketing strategies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simsek collaborated with Marguerite Bolt<\/a> in Purdue\u2019s Department of Agronomy<\/a> and former Purdue researcher Laila Hossain to develop the hemp-based superabsorbent materials. Simsek said hurds and bast are two parts of the hemp plant that offer unique benefits for sustainable material development, particularly in absorption technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHemp 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,\u201d she said. \u201cHemp bast, the fibrous outer layer, while less absorbent, provides strength and durability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simsek and her team tested the Purdue superabsorbent materials made from hemp using standardized absorbency tests, which compared them against traditional superabsorbent materials such as polyacrylate-based products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe hemp hurd, due to its enhanced surface area and porosity from our refining process, showed significantly higher absorption capacity than both hemp bast and many traditional materials,\u201d she said. \u201cThis validation underscores not only the effectiveness of our technology but also its potential to replace less sustainable options in the market.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simsek said H-PUC allows her and her research team to collaboratively advance the development of hemp-based products, focusing on both environmental and economic sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThrough this consortium, my team will be able to scale up our research on hemp-based superabsorbent materials, refine the technology and explore new applications. 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,\u201d she said. \u201cOur next steps include optimizing pilot-scale production and partnering with companies to commercialize these innovations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simsek disclosed the superabsorbent hemp-based materials to the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization<\/a>, which has applied for a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to protect the intellectual property. Industry partners interested in developing or commercializing the work should contact Dipak Narula, assistant director of business development and licensing \u2014 physical sciences, at dnarula@prf.org<\/a>, about track code 70273<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization<\/a> operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university\u2019s academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property. In fiscal year 2024, the office reported 145 deals finalized with 224 technologies signed, 466 invention disclosures received, and 290 U.S. and international patents received. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Contact otcip@prf.org<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue\u2019s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap \u2014 including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative \u2014 at https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/president\/strategic-initiatives<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/simsek-hpuc.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
Hemp-based superabsorbent materials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
About Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
About Purdue University<\/h2>\n\n\n\n