Strengthening the Use of Biomass for Synthesis of Bioplastics and Other Compounds, Using Radiation Technology

Open for proposals

Project Type

Coordinated Research Project

Project Code

F22081

CRP

2334

Approved Date

14 December 2022

Status

Active - Ongoing

Start Date

26 June 2023

Expected End Date

31 August 2028

Participating Countries

Argentina
Canada
Croatia
Egypt
France
Ghana
India
Indonesia
Malaysia
Philippines
Poland
Serbia
Thailand
Tunisia
United States of America

Description

The expanded use of natural or biodegradable polymer-based products for different applications is needed to respond to the mounting negative environmental impact of single-use plastics and to reduce the use of petrol-based compounds for such products. Nature annually produces a huge amount of biopolymers. Current observations show the annual formation of about 400 billion tons of cellulose, 10 billion tons of chitin and 100 billion tons of lignin. However, mankind is able to convert only a small fraction of this amount into demanded products (380 million tons of cellulose, 10 thousand tons of chitin, and 1.1 million tons of lignin). Undoubtedly, expanding the methods and increasing the degree of conversion of renewable polymers would be able to meet the urgent need for reducing the impact of petroleum-based compounds on the environment. Radiation processing is a versatile and efficient tool for polymer modification to obtain task-specific functionalities suitable for a variety of applications that can contribute to successfully converting natural waste into valuable products, as well as into feedstocks for polymer production.
Radiation technology has been successfully used on a large scale for the processing of polyolefins and rubbers, which gives confidence in the successful solution of similar problems regarding natural polymers. The evident similarity between the mechanisms of radiolytic transformation of synthetic and natural polymers reveals a number of potential approaches to economical and safe solutions for the use of natural polymers in energy and environmental management. Although there are challenges in applying radiation technology and natural polymer together, such as radiation degradation or complicated radiolytic mechanisms, it is possible with extensive basic research to understand the reasons behind the change in a parameter and the structure-property relationship of the synthesized materials. Such research contributes to the development of new technologies and new products, as well as the scientific benefit it provides.

Objectives

strengthen the use of radiation technology for natural and biodegradable polymer modification to obtain task-specific functionalities suitable for a variety of applications, reducing the petrol-based single use plastics and enhancing the biomass availability for energy purposes

Specific objectives

expand the use of radiation technology for advanced materials, functionalising natural and biodegradable polymers with emphases in replacing single use plastic and oil-based packaging materials

optimize the embedding of radiation technology into biorefineries/bioethanol/biogas production to improve the yield, quality, or variety of consumer products,

develop radiation methods for the production of conventional and innovative monomers to reduce the dependence of the polymer industry on oil-based feedstocks

promote international collaborations among Member States involving industries, research institutions and foundations, universities, and other environmental and manufacturing enterprises.

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