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Nanoparticles for biodecomposable polymers made from upcycled PET&PP waste

Subproject of: Upcycling of PE and PET wastes to generate biodegradable bioplastics for food and drink packaging (upPE-T)

Project Leader: Zirbs Ronald, BOKU Project Leader

Duration:: 01.11.2020-31.10.2024

Programme:: Horizon 2020 - Industrial Leadership - Research & Innovation Action (RIA)

EU-Project Instruments: Collaborative Project

Type of Research: Applied Research

Project partners: ASOCIACIÓN EMPRESARIAL DE INVESTIGACIÓN CENTRO TECNOLÓGICO DEL CALZADO Y DEL PLÁSTICO DE LA REGIÓN DE MURCIA, Spain.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; ASOCIACION ESPANOLA DE NORMALIZACION , Spain.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; ASOCIACION PARA LA PROMOCION, INVESTIGACION, DESARROLLO E INNOVACION TECNOLOGICA DE LA INDUSTRIA DEL CALZADO Y CONEXAS DE LA RIOJA, Spain.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; BIO-MI DRUSTVO S OGRANICENOM ODGOVORNOSCU ZA PROIZVODNJU, ISTRAZIVANJEI RAZVOJ , Croatia.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; CETEC BIOTECHNOLOGY SL, Spain.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; DIGIOTOUCH OÜ, Estonia.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; DIMOS NEAS SMYRNI - MUNICIPALITY NEASSMYRNIS , Greece.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; DRUSTVO SA OGRANICENOM ODGOVORNOSCU ECO Plastics Beograd CUKARICA, Serbia.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; ENZYMICALS AG, Germany.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; INSTITUTE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION , Serbia.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; LAPPEENRANNAN-LAHDEN TEKNILLINEN YLIOPISTO LUT , Finland.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; MOSES PRODUCTOS SL , Spain.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; TAMPEREEN KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SR , Finland.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; TECNOALIMENTI S.C.P.A. , Italy.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; UNIONE NAZIONALE CONSUMATORI COMITATO REGIONALE UMBRIA, Italy.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; UNIVERSIDAD DE ALICANTE, Spain.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; UNIVERSITAET GREIFSWALD, Germany.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; VILLANI SPA , Italy.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner; (13) DURUKAN SEKERLEME SANAYI VE TICARETANONIM SIRKETI - DURUKAN CONFECTIONERY INC , Turkey.
Function of the Project Partner: Partner

Staff: Willinger Max, Project Staff; Bomba Kuba Dymitr, Project Staff

BOKU Research Units: Institute for Environmental Biotechnology; Institute of Biologisch inspirierte Materialien

Funded by: Commission of the European Communities, Rue de la Loi, Brussels, European Union

Abstract: The upPE-T project aims at the upcycling of persistent petroleum-based plastics through bioconversion. Biodegradable plastics for food and beverage packaging are produced.
Plastic packaging, which accounts for almost 60% of the total plastic waste in Europe, is highly problematic from a waste management and ecological point of view due to its durability and degradability. Polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are the leading plastics used for food and beverage packaging (43% PE and 19% PET). The recycling of this plastic waste has become a major problem that is contrary to the development of a sustainable society.
In upPE-T we will develop sustainable strategies as an alternative for the chemical degradation of plastics. The consortium will improve PE and PET depolymerization through enzymatic engineering to increase the recycling rate of food and beverage packaging and achieve the improvement expected by the European Union. In upPE-T we will convert PE and PET waste streams into raw material for the production of biodegradable plastics by enzymatic degradation and biotechnological processes. Finally, together with customers and brand owners of food and beverages, the bio-based final packaging will be demonstrated and validated to ensure rapid market introduction.
In addition, to ensure that PE and PET are 100% recyclable, plastic waste that is not optimal for microbial bioconversion into bioplastics will be upgraded by using it in construction applications rather than being sent for incineration or landfill.

Keywords: Functional materials; Polymer engineering; Material sciences; Nanomaterials; Nanotechnology;; core-shell-nanoparticles; Composit materials; compostable; nanoparticles; recycling;