Abstract

The project aims at obtaining a biodegradable packaging material obtained from tanning industry waste. Various types of waste resulting from the vegetable tanning process were examined. The innovative material to be produced must conduct a packaging or filling function efficiently. Biodegradability is the characteristic peculiar to the innovative material. This property, together with its fertilizing properties, permits its use in agriculture and/or composting plants.

The project will lead to experimentation in a pilot treatment plant made up of the following main units:

• grinding,
• reagglomeration
• drying.

Appropriate experimental protocols will be elaborated in order to evaluate the performances of the material for packaging or filling and also as a fertilizer. On the basis of the experimental results, an optimised treatment cycle will be proposed.

With specific reference to the industrial aspects, the project has the following objectives:

• resolution of problems connected to diffcult management and expensive waste discharge (vegetable tanning industry, shoe industry);
• recognition of the real and potential market for the product used as biodegradable and innovative packaging material (packaging industry
• recognition of the real and potential market for the product used as fertilizer and humus substance (fertilizing industry, agriculture, composting).

These results lead to obvious economic consequences for the industrial sectors that are connected to the various phases of the initiative: lowering of costs for waste producers, economic advantages for users, both in the packaging phase and in the final fertilizing phase.

Social implications are related to the opening of new markets and to the solution of the main problems investigated (tanning industry waste, non-biodegradable packaging waste).

Finally, from a purely technical point of view, the main aim consists in creating a material that is capable of competing (costs, performances: specific weight, mechanical resistance etc.) with traditional packaging elements (generally non-biodegradable) at least for certain specific sectors of the market.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Giuseppe VOLPI / Volpi Giuseppe SpA ITALY

Participant

• Carlo dell' ORFANELLO / Airfoical Porcari Srl ITALY
• Michele COLLUCIA / C.G.S. SAS ITALY
• Pedro CELMA / CETS Institut Químic de Sarrià SPAIN
• Marco MALTAGLIATI / Centro Sviluppo Ricerca Tecn ITALY
• Christos CHLIAOUTAKIS / Chr Chliaoutakis & Sons OE GREECE
• Brunello CECCANTI / Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Organisation Istituto per la Chimica del Terreno / ITALY
• Spiridon AGAPAKIS / Elkede Technology & Design Center S.A. GREECE
• Pere FONT / Embalatges Amat SA SPAIN
• Anton KILGER / Gebr Kilger KG Tannery GERMANY
• Andreas LINOS / N. Linos Ltd GREECE