Biodegradable superhydrophobic bio-coatings for toilet bowls
Innovative biodegradable coating using gelatin and chitosan blends with natural waxes for self-cleaning toilet bowls. Offers eco-friendly alternative with comparable performance to synthetic coatings through systematic component replacement and optimization.
Overview
The biodegradable superhydrophobic bio-coating is a breakthrough innovation designed for toilet bowls, combining gelatin and chitosan blends with natural waxes to achieve self-cleaning properties. This eco-friendly solution transitions from synthetic to biodegradable components, maintaining high performance through controlled micro-roughness and surface energy modifications. The coating provides sufficient repellency against contaminants, enhancing hygiene while reducing cleaning efforts.
Technical specifications
- Bio-polymer components: Gelatin and chitosan offer strong film-forming properties for robust coatings.
- Natural waxes: Modify surface energy to enhance repellency.
- Nano-emulsion spray deposition: Enables hierarchical surface structure development.
- Component replacement approach: Systematic substitution of synthetic materials with bio-based alternatives, optimizing each for performance.
- Surface characteristics: Controlled surface roughness and morphology to achieve desired hydrophobicity.
Technology readiness level
This technology is at TRL 4, having established a baseline with synthetic coatings and begun transitioning to bio-based components. Current efforts focus on optimizing the formulation and validating performance through controlled testing and real-world trials.
About University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore
UET Lahore is a large, multi-campus public engineering and technology university known for hands-on education and applied research. Co-located teaching and research laboratories, fabrication workshops, and field test sites are distributed across campuses near major industrial zones, enabling prototyping, validation, and scale-up with local partners. Structured industry internships, consultancy, and professional training create steady two-way engagement and a reliable talent pipeline. Research is supported by Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission, national research agencies, and competitively awarded international programs, while a dedicated office for research, innovation, and commercialization provides IP services, sponsored-research agreements, and startup support.
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