31 March 2024
The DNFI Innovation Award 2024 was presented to Dr Mohamad Midani, Associate Professor at the Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University (USA) and CEO of Valorizen LLC, for the development of PalmFil® – the world’s first textile fibre extracted from date palms.
This breakthrough process has the potential to significantly increase the global supply of natural fibres. Dr Midani conducted his research in Cairo, Egypt.
PalmFil® is a textile fibre derived from the leaves and fruit stalks of date palms. These fibrous bundles are naturally bonded by a biological adhesive, making them difficult to extract without breakage or damage. The patented PalmFil® process involves the disintegration of these fibre bundles using a sophisticated yet eco-friendly mechanical-chemical-biological method, transforming them into a valuable raw material for the textile industry.
This innovation expands the palette of sustainable natural textile fibres by utilising date palm biomass waste, estimated at up to 5 million tonnes of dry matter annually worldwide.