DA NATUREZA À INOVAÇÃO: USO DO TANINO E FIBRAS DO COCO VERDE NA CRIAÇÃO DE PAPEL RECICLADO

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the creation of a new sustainable material based on recycled paper, incorporating additives extracted from discarded green coconut waste in the city of São Luís (MA), grounded in the principles of systemic design. The motivation for this research stems from the growing production and disposal of green coconuts in the region, coupled with the lack of effective solutions for repurposing this type of waste. Considering the promising chemical and physical properties of tannin and coconut fibers, the study aims to validate their application as performance-enhancing additives in composites with recycled paper as the base material. The adopted methodology is applied in nature, with a quantitative approach and exploratory objectives, combining bibliographic review and laboratory experimentation. The investigation demonstrated that tannin powder improves the water resistance of recycled paper, while coconut fiber enhances its tensile strength. The results indicate a significant performance improvement of the recycled paper, revealing the potential use of green coconut waste in the development of new sustainable materials aligned with practices that contribute to a waste reuse ecosystem. This research, therefore, contributes to the field of materials design by proposing local solutions to an urgent environmental issue, with an innovative approach and positive social, environmental, and economic impacts.