Abstract

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biologically synthesized and biodegradable polyesters that may substitute fossil oil-derived plastics. A new process for sustainable production of PHAs with controlled composition to be used as key components in the design and production of biodegradable plastic packaging items is proposed. Whey, a European wide surplus and waste material from dairy industry will be taken as cheap feed stock for the process.

After assessment of raw materials and PHA producing bacterial strains, the biotechnological process will be optimised as well as polyester extraction, using nontoxic inexpensive solvents. Purified PHA will be chemically and physically characterized and, guided by the industrial converter partners and end-user needs, an integrated production process for novel biodegradable plastics dedicated to environmentally friendly packaging and containers, meeting the EC-directive 62/94, will be the ultimate project goal.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Gerhart BRAUNEGG / University of Technology Graz Dept of Biotechnology / AUSTRIA

Participant

• Wilhelm HAMMER / BDI ANLAGEBAU GES.M.B.H AUSTRIA
• Luca LANDINI / Idroplast SRL ITALY
• Francesco BALASSO / Latterie Vicentine Scarl ITALY
• Pavol HRDLOVIC / Polymer Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences Laboratory of Composite Thermoplastics / SLOVAK REPUBLIC
• Vladimir BALES / Slovak University of Technology Faculty of Chemical Technology / SLOVAKIA
• Carla GUIDOTTI / Universita Degli Studi di Pisa Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry / ITALY
• Sergio CASELLA / Universita degli Studi di Padova Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Agrarie / ITALY
• Rolf MARR / University of Technology Graz Institute of Thermal Process Engineering / AUSTRIA