CBET-EPSRC Sustainable bioplastics prepared by ultrasonic treatment with low CO2 footprint

该项目旨在开发创新的绿色超声波制造技术，使用含有半纤维素（木聚糖）、生物基2，5-呋喃二甲酸和单乙二醇的农业和生物燃料炼油厂副产品生产100%可生物降解、可堆肥和100%生物基热塑性塑料。这些生物质基热塑性塑料（PEF）可以取代石油基包装材料，纤维和商品塑料（PET、PS、PE/PP）--可回收性差的微塑料颗粒是海洋和垃圾填埋场污染的主要来源。全球只有9%的石油基塑料废物被回收利用。超声合成是一种利用空化效应在非平衡条件下向反应混合物中输入能量以制备新型材料的绿色方法。它不需要额外的试剂和高温，从而减少了副产物的量。我们将研究原位空化效应和生物质基热塑性塑料的形成机理。应用超声波作为制造生物质基热塑性塑料的新制造工艺，可以减少3-4倍的能源消耗和二氧化碳足迹，并最大限度地减少制造过程中的废物量。

This project aims at the development of innovative green ultrasonic manufacturing technology for the production of 100% biodegradable, compostable, and 100% biobased thermoplastics using agricultural and biofuel refinery side products containing hemicelluloses (xylan), biobased 2,5-furandicarbonic acid and monoethylene glycol.These biomass-based thermoplastics (PEF) can replace petroleum-based packaging materials, fibers and commodity plastics (PET, PS, PE/PP) - the major sources of the ocean and landfill contamination with poorly recyclable microplastic particles. Approximately only 9% of petroleum-based plastic waste is recycled Worldwide. We focus on 100% degradation of the proposed thermoplastics after one-two month of composting.Ultrasonic synthesis is a green method of energy input into reaction mixture for fabrication of new types of materials in nonequilibrium conditions employing cavitation effect. It does not require additional reagents and high temperatures thus reducing the amount of by-products. We will study in-situ cavitation effects and mechanisms of the formation of biomass based thermoplastics. Application of ultrasound as a new manufacturing process for fabrication of biomass-based thermoplastics can result in 3-4 fold reduction of the energy consumption as well as CO2 footprint and minimisation of the amount of waste during manufacturing.