Optimisation of alginate films for sustainable food packaging applications

塑料垃圾对环境有着巨大的有害影响，工业面临着越来越大的压力，需要用可持续来源的聚合物取代传统的污染性石化聚合物。塑料薄膜食品包装虽然是一次性的，但在延长食品保质期和减少食物浪费方面发挥着重要作用，而食物浪费是温室气体的重要来源。然而，塑料薄膜食品包装不容易回收，最好用可堆肥的、可持续来源的替代品来取代这种薄膜。海藻酸盐来源于海藻，是一种很有前途的可持续可堆肥聚合物。Oceanium正在开发创新和可持续的海藻基产品，如藻酸盐基塑料，并已展示了将海藻基生物包装材料转化为家庭可堆肥薄膜和纸板的实验概念验证。然而，由于性能特点，应用程序受到限制。该项目的目的是提高用Oceanium有限公司原料（海藻）制成的食品包装用海藻酸盐薄膜的性能，开发一条可直接转化为工业流程的制造路线。为了加速优化，我们将使用模拟来深入了解海藻酸盐，增塑剂和填充颗粒之间的分子相互作用如何影响薄膜的分子结构。为了达到性能优化和易于制造的目的，我们将通过实验研究1)加工条件，2)增塑剂的添加，3)填料的添加对海藻酸盐薄膜性能和性能的影响。以此为基础，我们将设计最佳的大洋原料生产配方。

Plastic waste has a hugely detrimental impact on the environment and there is mounting pressure on industry to replace traditional polluting petrochemical polymers with sustainably-sourced polymers. Plastic film food packaging, while single-use, plays an important role in extending the shelf life of food and reducing food waste that is a significant contributor to greenhouse gases. However, plastic film food packaging is not easily recycled and it is desirable to replace this film with compostable, sustainably-sourced alternatives. Alginate, sourced from seaweed, is a promising sustainable and compostable polymer. Oceanium is developing innovative and sustainable seaweed-based products, such as alginate-based plastics, and have demonstrated experimental proof-of-concept for the conversion of seaweed-based biopackaging materials into home-compostable film and board. However, the applications are limited due to performance characteristics.The aim of the project is to improve the performance of alginate films for food packaging made with Oceanium Ltd feedstock (seaweed), developing a manufacturing route that is directly translatable to industrial processes. In order to accelerate the optimisation we will use simulation to gain insight into how the molecular interactions between alginate, plasticisers and filler particles affect the film's molecular structure. In order to achieve the aims of optimized properties and facile manufacturing, we will use experiment to investigate how 1) the processing conditions, 2) addition of plasticisers, and 3) addition of fillers affect alginate film properties and performance. From these we will design the optimal manufacturing formulation for Oceanium feedstock.