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

最快到2021年底，加拿大将禁止使用一次性塑料结账袋、搅拌棒、饮料六装环、餐具、吸管和塑料食品包装。纸浆和造纸业凭借其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进行了不同的表面处理。通常情况下，涂布材料是由石油化工制成的，不能堆肥，对纸张的回收利用有负面影响。不幸的是，在我们的海洋中发现了相当大比例的包装，这对海洋生物多样性构成了真正的威胁，海洋生物多样性是人类的主要食物来源之一。即使是新型的生物基可堆肥生物塑料，如聚乳酸、聚己二酸对苯二甲酸丁二醇酯、聚丁二酸丁二醇酯，在海洋和淡水环境中也不能生物降解。全氟烷基物质(PFAS)和多氟烷基物质(PFAS)用作防油剂。它们在非常低的浓度下非常有效。然而，它们在环境中是坚持不懈的。凯米拉是一家为包括纸浆和造纸在内的多个行业提供化学产品的供应商。该公司提供增强纸张和纸板性能的产品，如干湿强度、阻隔性、柔软性等。凯米拉希望通过提供适合这些应用的新添加剂，成为3D纤维素产品开发的一部分。在该项目中，将为纸张、纸板和纤维素热成型产品开发基于PHAS的新涂料配方。试验将从实验室规模进行到中试规模。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水平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.