Fiber2Fiber

Fiber2Fiber is funded by the European Fund for Regional Development (EU-EFRO), and allocated to NIOO by the province of Gelderland. In this project, a consortium of companies, waterboards en knowledge institutions is developing strategies to make asbestos fibers in soil-less toxic. Combing the synergistic action of plants, fungi, and bacteria, elements (e.g. Fe, Mg) can be extracted from asbestos fibers making them less toxic but also amendable for further degradation. NIOO has isolated and characterized a range of fungi and bacteria with the right properties for this task. A main focus is on the interaction between fungi and bacteria soliciting a stronger effect on the fibers.

Initiator and important project member is dr. ir. Gerard Korthals (https://www.wur.nl/nl/personen/gerard-dr.-gw-gerard-korthals.htm)