Development of a biodegradable, repulpable, recyclable and compostable barrier coating for paper, board and molded fiber packaging industry

到2021年底，加拿大将禁止使用一次性塑料结账袋、搅拌棒、饮料六包装环、餐具、吸管和塑料食品包装。纸浆和造纸工业拥有发达的回收网络和纤维素固有的生物降解性/堆肥性，似乎是这些政策的赢家。但纸张的阻隔性能较差，限制了其应用。为了提高这些性能，在纸、纸板和热成型产品的表面上施加不同的表面处理。通常，涂层材料由石油化学品制成，不可堆肥，并对纸张的可回收性产生负面影响。不幸的是，在我们的海洋中发现了很大比例的包装，这对海洋生物多样性构成了真实的威胁，而海洋生物多样性是人类的主要食物来源之一。即使是新的生物基和可堆肥的生物塑料，如PLA（聚乳酸），PBAT（Ecoflex，聚己二酸对苯二甲酸丁二醇酯），PBS（聚丁二酸丁二醇酯）在海洋和淡水环境中也不能生物降解。全氟烷基和多氟烷基物质（PFAS）用作油脂阻隔剂。它们在非常低的浓度下非常有效。但是，它们在环境中是持久的。Kemira是一家为纸浆和造纸等多个行业提供化学产品的供应商。Kemira公司提供的产品可提高纸张和纸板的性能，如干、湿强度、阻隔性、柔软性等。Kemira公司希望通过提供适用于这些应用的新型添加剂，参与3D纤维素产品的开发。在该项目中，将开发基于PHA的新型涂料配方，用于纸张、纸板和纤维素热成型产品。试验将从实验室规模到中试规模进行。这些配方将使Kemira的加拿大客户能够在加拿大生产具有高阻隔性的可持续纤维素包装。

As soon as the end of 2021, single use plastics checkout bags, stir sticks, beverage six pack rings, cutlery, straws and food packaging made from plastics will be banned in Canada. The pulp and paper industry with its well-developed recycling networks and the inherent biodegradability/ compostability properties of cellulose seems to be the winner of these policies. But the poor barrier properties of the paper limit its application. To increase these performances different surface treatments are applied on the surface of paper, cardboard, and thermoformed products. Generally, the coating materials are made from petrochemical, are not compostable and negatively affect the recyclability of the paper. A significant proportion of packaging is unfortunately found in our oceans and it represents a real threat to marine biodiversity, one of humanity's main sources of food. Even new biobased and compostable bioplastic such as PLA (polylactic acid), PBAT (Ecoflex, polybutylene adipate terephthalate), PBS (polybutylene succinate) are not biodegradable on marine and freshwater environment. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used as a grease barrier agent. They are very effective at very low concentrations. However, they are persistent in the environment. Kemira is a supplier of chemical products for several industries including pulp and paper. The company provides products to enhance the properties of papers and boards such as dry and wet strength, barriers, softness etc. Kemira wants to be part of the development of 3D cellulosic products by providing new additives adapted to these applications.In this project, new coating formulation based on PHAs will developed for paper, cardboard, and cellulosic thermoformed products. Trials will be carried out from the laboratory scale up to the pilot scale. These formulations will allow Kemira's Canadian customers to produce sustainable cellulosic packaging in Canada with a high level of barrier.