Giiguulen Enkhsaikhan: More sustainable textiles with hemicellulose
Tell us about yourself
I am a second-year doctoral student at the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems. I completed my master’s studies through the Erasmus Mundus programme, which took me to study in three countries: France, Estonia and Finland. I wrote my master’s thesis at Aalto University and then continued my studies in the doctoral programme of the School of Chemical Engineering.
What do you research?
My goal is to make man-made cellulosic fibers more affordable, greener and more sustainable. These fibers originate from natural sources, for example wood pulp, and considered as more sustainable alternatives to synthetic fibers.
However, industries today only use cellulose from the wood pulp and throw away the other components, hemicellulose and lignin. This purification process is energy and resource intensive. I’m studying how hemicellulose can be utilised more effectively in the fabrication process. What if we kept it in the fiber instead of burning it for energy?
My goal is to understand the role of hemicellulose and how it affects the fiber’s structure, dyeability and mechanical performance.
Our research has already shown that hemicellulose can enhance fiber properties, improving the dyeing process by absorbing colour more efficiently—resulting in brighter, longer-lasting colours. This can reduce the use of chemicals and expand the range of possible raw materials beyond just wood.
Why are you interested in this topic?
I grew up in the rural areas of Mongolia, where our clothing was connected to our cultural heritage and mostly made from natural fibers. After moving to the city and starting my studies, I noticed the prevalence of fast fashion but found it difficult to learn where the clothes came from or how they were produced.
I believe we should replace synthetic fibers, and we need alternatives that are of high quality, more sustainable and less expensive. This can be achieved with cheaper raw materials, simplified processing and reduced chemical usage.
Third prize for Giiguulen Enkhsaikhan in the MWP Young Researchers’ ChallengeIn November, 26 doctoral students and researchers from 7 countries and 18 universities were invited to attend the Marcus Wallenberg Young Researchers’ Challenge. The event was designed to inspire the next generation of forest researchers and included scientific talks, presentations, panel discussions and networking opportunities with other researchers. All participants showcased their work through 3-minute presentations. Members of the Marcus Wallenberg Prize Selection Committee attended the session, and both the committee and the young researchers voted for their favourite presentations. Three outstanding talks were awarded, with Giiguulen Enkhsaikhan from Aalto winning the third prize. Congratulations! Two other researchers from Aalto University were also attending the Young Researchers’ Challenge: Nissa Nurfajrin Solihat and Shiying Zhang, both from the School of Chemical Engineering. |
Photos: Aalto University / Matti Ahlgren
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