When Most Kaniz Moriam came to Aalto University's School of Chemical Engineering to pursue a master's degree in 2015, she already had a master's degree in chemistry from her home country, Bangladesh.
– Bangladesh is the world's second largest exporter of ready-made garments, but the environmental standards of the textile industry could be improved. In Finland, research has begun on how the forest industry could adapt to more environmentally friendly cellulose-based textile production. I wanted to learn more about cellulose, so I chose the Fiber and Polymer Engineering master's program. My husband was already in Finland, so the choice was easy, he says.
Moriam, who defended her thesis last summer, conducted her doctoral research as part of the Ioncell project led by Professor Herbert Sixta, which has developed environmentally friendly, cellulose-based textile fibers. The Ioncell method is based on an ionic liquid that dissolves cellulose and the fiber is produced using the air-gap spinning method. Moriam developed the functionality of Ioncell fibers so that they could replace synthetic fibers in, for example, sports and workwear. The result was a high-strength Ioncell fiber and a water-repellent cellulose-based textile fiber, the water-repellent properties of which were achieved by adding plant-based, naturally water-repellent substances to the solution.
Cutting-edge technology that you won't find in Europe
Now Most Kaniz Moriam is leaving as a PI postdoc fellow to continue her research at a top university in the United States, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In his three-year project, he focuses on the recyclability of cellulose-based textile fibers.
– In Ioncell technology, recycled fibers are dissolved and re-formed into fibers, and the fibers should withstand this without breaking. To improve recycling efficiency, it is therefore essential to study the viscoelastic properties of cellulose blends in solutions, he explains.
Ioncell technology can produce high-quality textile material from recycled fibers, but for larger scale, more understanding of the viscoelastic properties of different types of recycled textiles is needed.
– Only about one percent of the world's textile waste currently ends up in recycling. I would like to improve the efficiency of textile recycling with Ioncell technology, but the research will also be useful for companies recycling cellulose-based textiles using other methods.
Moriam will work at MIT under the supervision of world-leading rheologist, Professor Gareth McKinley. The viscoelastic properties of a solution can be studied using advanced rheological measurements, and MIT has cutting-edge technology and expertise for this, which is currently lacking in Europe.
– I am really excited about this opportunity. I believe that the knowledge and skills I have learned will benefit textile recycling in Europe.
Finland has a place in my heart
Moriam is waiting for the MIT period to begin, even though he has already started his research at Aalto University.
– Because I work on Ioncell, I will continue to collaborate with Professor Michael Hummel of Aalto University, but 95% of my work will take place at MIT.
He has been warmly welcomed at MIT.
– Everyone has been really friendly and helpful. I also believe I will adapt well to the American work culture – I am not afraid of hard work.
The whole family is going to the United States, as her husband is working at Harvard University at the same time. After three years, they plan to return to Finland.
– Finland has a special place in my heart. I am a Finnish citizen and my son was born here. I also believe that I learned a lot at MIT that will be useful for the Finnish economy and society.
Moriam would like to thank the Finnish Association of Wood Processing Engineers for the scholarship, which will cover his work for a year. “I am very pleased and grateful for this opportunity,” he says.
