High-Barrier Biodegradable Paper (HB2P) as Alternatives to Plastics

水、空气和土壤中塑料、微塑料以及全氟烷基物质和多氟烷基物质(PFAS)的扩散构成了环境和健康风险。该项目的目的是使用一种独特的双层方法来创造高阻隔性生物可降解纸(HB2P)，作为塑料和全氟辛烷磺酸涂布纸的替代品。创新的双层涂布纸的使用具有潜在的耐水性和耐油性，以及一次性包装(杯子、盘子、食品包装纸、袋子、软袋等)的气体和湿气阻隔性能，可在包装行业用作塑料和全氟辛烷磺酸涂布纸的替代品。设计的铜版纸是可生物降解的，可以在受控条件下转化为堆肥土壤，同时如果泄漏到环境中，能够很容易地生物降解为无害的产品。将对拟议的铜版纸进行生命周期评估(LCA)和技术经济分析(TEA)，以确保对环境负责和经济上可行的解决方案。该项目还将解决一些知识空白，包括在不使用有机溶剂的情况下创造可生物降解的聚酯乳胶、获得与传统高阻隔性多层塑料的性能相匹配或超过的高阻隔性涂布纸，以及高阻隔性纸的环境足迹。通过这项工作取得的成果旨在为创造将促进环境可持续性的数据信息技术提供基础知识。将追求的具体目标是：目标1：研究和开发制造可生物降解聚酯胶乳的无溶剂方法。目的：采用双层法研究可生物降解聚酯胶乳对人血清白蛋白(HB2P)的影响。目标3：通过LCA和TEA以及生物降解性研究，评估高屏障生物可降解纸的寿命终结情景、总体环境足迹和经济可行性。该项目旨在开辟和推进材料科学、生物降解性、纸张表面改性和木材保护等领域的新研究走廊。该项目的目的是通过提供不含全氟辛烷磺酸的、可堆肥的和可生物降解的包装材料，实现对环境有害的一次性塑料和高阻隔多层结构的转变，从而改变包装行业的格局。这项工作对有源和智能包装领域具有变革性的潜力，因为双层涂层可以潜在地适应极性和非极性活性添加剂以及低温加工要求。这项研究为许多包装技术提供了基础知识，应用范围从纸杯到果汁包装，从一次性盘子到软袋，市场价值超过3000亿美元。该项目旨在加强美国制造商的地位，使他们能够在全球市场上以具有竞争力的价格生产可持续的产品。这项研究产生的技术将有可能减少20%的垃圾填埋/焚烧(3200万吨/年)。微塑性减少量可能远大于20%，因为软包装是50%微塑料的来源，而所提出的技术适用于这种软包装。此外，该项目还有助于生产不含全氟辛烷磺酸的一次性包装纸。因此，这项工作将促进环境和人类健康的保护。从事这个项目的研究生和本科生将在材料和环境科学方面获得宝贵的教育、指导和实践研究经验。该项目的外展部分包括每年为小学生、初中生和高中生进行几次与STEM相关的演示，并安排学生多次参观当地的回收设施。重点将是纳入促进STEM领域典型代表不足的群体参与的项目。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The proliferation of plastics, microplastics, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water, air, and soil poses environmental and health risks. The aim of this project is to use a unique dual-layer approach to create high-barrier biodegradable paper (HB2P) as an alternative to plastics and PFAS-coated paper. The use of innovative dual-layer-coated paper has the potential to offer water and oil resistance, as well as gas and moisture barrier properties for single-use packaging (cups, plates, food wrappers, bags, flexible pouches, and so on), which can be used as alternatives to plastics and PFAS-coated paper in the packaging industry. The designed coated paper is to be biodegradable and can be converted into compost soil under controlled conditions, while being able to readily biodegrade into non-harmful products if it leaks into the environment. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) of the proposed coated paper will be performed to ensure environmentally responsible and economically feasible solutions. The project will also address several knowledge gaps including those associated with the creation of biodegradable polyester latex without using organic solvents, obtaining high-barrier coated paper that matches or exceeds the performance of conventional high barrier multilayer plastics, and the environmental footprint of high-barrier paper. The results acquired through this work aim to provide foundational knowledge to create data-informed technologies that will promote environmental sustainability. The specific objectives that will be pursued are: Objective 1: Investigate and develop solvent-free methods for creating biodegradable polyester latex. Objective 2: Investigate the impact of biodegradable polyester latex on the development of HB2P via a dual-layer approach. Objective 3: Evaluate the end-of-life scenarios, overall environmental footprint, and economic feasibility of high-barrier biodegradable paper via LCA and TEA and biodegradability studies. This project intends to open and advance new corridors of research in areas such as materials science, biodegradability, paper surface modification, and wood preservation. The intention of the project is to transform the landscape of the packaging sector by enabling a shift away from the existing environmentally harmful single-use plastics and high barrier multilayered structures by offering PFAS-free, compostable, and biodegradable packaging materials. This work has transformative potential for the field of active and smart packaging because dual-layer coatings can potentially accommodate both polar and non- polar active additives as well as low-temperature processing demands. This research offers foundational knowledge for many packaging technologies with applications ranging from paper cups to juice packs and from disposable plates to flexible pouches with a market value of over $300 billion. This project targets strengthening the position of US manufacturers by enabling them to produce sustainable products at competitive prices in the global marketplace. The technologies stemming from this research will have the potential to reduce landfilling/incineration by 20% (32 million tons/year). The microplastic reduction could be much larger than 20% because flexible packaging is the source of 50% of microplastics, and the proposed technology is suitable for this flexible packaging. In addition, the project could help to create PFAS-free single-use packaging paper. Thus, this work will promote the protection of the environment and human health. Graduate and undergraduate students working on this project will gain valuable education, mentoring, and hands-on research experience in materials and environmental sciences. The outreach component of this project includes several STEM-related demonstrations per year for elementary-, middle-, and high-school students, and arranging multiple visits for students to local recycling facilities. A focus will be on inclusion of programs that foster the participation of groups that are typically underrepresented in STEM fields.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.