FP6 - COLL-CT-2005-516231 TRIGGER - Development of a pea starch film with Trigger biodegradation

Contacts
Website: www.aimplas.es/proyectos/trigger




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Chemical Conversion : Nanotechnology and Materials

Type of Project	SMEs-Collective research projects
Contract No	FP6 - COLL-CT-2005-516231
Total Cost	2,798 KEuro
EC Contribution	1,551 KEuro
Start Date	10-6-2005
Duration	36 Months

Abstract

The main objective is to develop an agricultural plastic film which will maintain its functional properties during its lifespan, and at the same time be able to breakdown quickly and effectively after harvest.

The aim is to develop a trigger to start and accelerate the biodegradation process as soon as the film is no longer required. This trigger must be activated independently of the crop, the type of soil and climate conditions.

Two alternative approaches to manufacture a film with a controlled biodegradation start and rate (Trigger System)will be investigated:

• A film based on a biopolymer with a low biodegradation rate, which will incorporate a salt as a filler that will undergo an exothermal reaction in contact with water.
• A film based on a biopolymer with high biodegradation rate whose biodegradation activity will be initially inhibited by the addition of an anti-microbial additive and then promoted when required.

To achieve these objectives the trigger system has four key components with the following characteristics:

• Biodegradable Polymer
• Use of a by-product from the pea industry (starch rich fraction), with potentially excellent mechanical and rheological properties due to its special structure and chemical composition.
• Filler/additive
  • Environmental friendly, hence will not pollute the soil.
  • Must not modify the mechanical and thermal characteristics of the film (chemically inert).
  • To act in the core of the film, to increase its effectiveness and minimize its interaction with the environment.
• Must be processable with conventional plastic processing machinery.
• Biodegradable film must be utilised using standard equipment.
• Adequate for a wide range of crops and climatic conditions at a competitive cost

Ancillary agricultural machinery equipment will be adapted in order to grind up the film and start the biodegradation process.

The R&D work will mainly focus on the trigger systems, but also on the biopolymer made of pea starch, the compounding process, the film extrusion process and the system to obtain plastic bits and mix them with the soil using specially adapted agriculture machinery.

Coordinator

Asociación de Investigación de Materiales Plásticos (AIMPLAS), Spain

Partners

• Agricultural Industries Confederation LTD, United Kingdom
• Chamber of Comerse and Industry Dobrich, Bulgaria
• National Farmers€Union (NFU), United Kingdom
• La Unió de Llauradors i Ramaders, Spain
• SCA Unéal, France
• Federazione Regionale Coldiretti Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
• Iniciativas Plásticas S.L., Spain
• Wells Plastics LTD, United Kingdom
• Moksliniu Paslaugu Firma GTV, Lithuania
• Plásticos Montison S.L., Spain
• S.A. Entreprise Bouillet, France
• Thomas Thomson Ltd, United Kingdom
• Institute of Food Research, United Kingdom
• Rapra Technology Ltd, United Kingdom

Contacts

Contact

• Jose Antonio COSTA MOCHOLI / AIMPLAS Asociacion De Investigacion De Materiales Plasticos Y Conexa / SPAIN