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<p><i>Cortaderia selloana</i> (pampas grass) is an invasive species in Europe, North America, and Oceania, native to southern South America. Its widespread distribution has contributed to biodiversity loss, increased landscape management costs, and public health concerns. At the same time it leads to challenges in control measures. Furthermore, limited research exists on the species’ potential for creating a value chain from its biomass. This study investigates the potential use of <i>C. selloana</i> stems as a thermal insulation material for building applications. The methodology involved laboratory testing, including measurements of moisture content (9,24%), water absorption by capillarity, linear retraction, contact angle (hydrophobic exterior and hydrophilic interior), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy coupled with an Attenuated Total Reflectance accessory (ATR-FTIR) and Optical microscopy observations, which confirmed a porous structure and waxed external walls, supporting insulating performance. Furthermore, thermal analysis results indicate that the stems provide thermal insulation comparable to cork and wood fibre panels, with a thermal conductivity of 0.04&#xa0;W/mK, and good mechanical resistance, with strong flexural resistance (6.85&#xa0;MPa), with high elasticity. In conclusion, the findings suggest that <i>C. selloana</i> stems offer promising attributes as a sustainable building insulation material and also as a reinforcing component in bio-based composites for various applications.</p>

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Turning Invasive Cortaderia Selloana into Sustainable Building Insulation: A Biomass Valorization Approach

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月21日

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  • Livia Cosentino,
  • Diana Ferreira,
  • Jorge Fernandes,
  • Ricardo Mateus

摘要

Cortaderia selloana (pampas grass) is an invasive species in Europe, North America, and Oceania, native to southern South America. Its widespread distribution has contributed to biodiversity loss, increased landscape management costs, and public health concerns. At the same time it leads to challenges in control measures. Furthermore, limited research exists on the species’ potential for creating a value chain from its biomass. This study investigates the potential use of C. selloana stems as a thermal insulation material for building applications. The methodology involved laboratory testing, including measurements of moisture content (9,24%), water absorption by capillarity, linear retraction, contact angle (hydrophobic exterior and hydrophilic interior), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy coupled with an Attenuated Total Reflectance accessory (ATR-FTIR) and Optical microscopy observations, which confirmed a porous structure and waxed external walls, supporting insulating performance. Furthermore, thermal analysis results indicate that the stems provide thermal insulation comparable to cork and wood fibre panels, with a thermal conductivity of 0.04 W/mK, and good mechanical resistance, with strong flexural resistance (6.85 MPa), with high elasticity. In conclusion, the findings suggest that C. selloana stems offer promising attributes as a sustainable building insulation material and also as a reinforcing component in bio-based composites for various applications.