Optimisation of alginate films for sustainable food packaging applications

塑料垃圾对环境有巨大的有害影响，工业面临着越来越大的压力，要求用可持续来源的聚合物取代传统的污染石化聚合物。塑料薄膜食品包装虽然一次性使用，但在延长食品的保质期和减少食品浪费方面发挥着重要作用，食物浪费是温室气体的重要贡献者。然而，塑料薄膜食品包装不容易回收，人们希望用可堆肥的、可持续来源的替代品取代这种薄膜。藻酸盐来源于海藻，是一种很有前途的可持续和可堆肥的聚合物。大洋洲正在开发创新和可持续的海藻产品，如海藻酸盐塑料，并已展示了将海藻生物包装材料转化为可在家中堆肥的薄膜和纸板的实验概念验证。然而，由于性能特点，该项目的应用受到限制。该项目的目标是提高以Ocean Ltd为原料(海藻)制造的食品包装用藻酸盐薄膜的性能，开发一条可直接转化为工业工艺的制造路线。为了加速优化，我们将使用模拟来深入了解海藻酸盐、增塑剂和填料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，我们将通过实验来研究1)工艺条件，2)增塑剂的添加，3)填料的添加对海藻酸膜性能和性能的影响。在此基础上，设计出大洋藻原料的最佳生产配方。

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.