SBIR Phase I: A home-compostable replacement to petroleum-based flexible packaging derived from seaweed

SBIR 第一阶段：以海藻为原料的石油基软包装的家庭可堆肥替代品

• 批准号: 2302043
• 负责人: Joakim Engstrom
• 金额: $ 27.24万
• 依托单位: SWAY INNOVATION CO.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-09-15 至 2024-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2302043&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; home; compostable; replacement

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is the development of a new type of melt-processable pellet made utilizing phycocolloids derived from different seaweed materials. Today, the commercial plastic packaging industry is reliant on the polymerization of petroleum derivatives, which are then compounded or melt-processed before being converted into finished goods. Mounting consumer backlash against plastic waste, domestic and international regulations, and an increased focus on curtailing dependence on petroleum are driving the demand for compostable packaging solutions that can service the biodegradable packaging market which is set to grow to $812 billion by 2030. By using seaweed as an alternative feedstock, the team's goal is to eliminate the need for more environmentally intensive inputs including petroleum as well as other terrestrial crops. Furthermore, this material technology is being designed for compatibility with existing plastic manufacturing infrastructure – thereby streamlining a path to scale and cost competitiveness. The anticipated outcome of this project is the development of the first commercially viable polymeric material predominantly derived from seaweed, that is melt-processed and compostable. This breakthrough will unlock a renewable plastic replacement that meets essential requirements for cost, scalability, and environmental impact. The intellectual merit of this project focuses on the development of a viable pathway for creating melt-processable pellets from seaweed. The goal is to enable the conversion of these pellets using conventional machinery to produce flexible film packaging. The main technical challenge to overcome in achieving successful commercialization is that seaweed materials do not melt at suitable processing temperatures, as do traditional polymers. Consequently, the resulting material does not possess the necessary mechanical properties required for flexible packaging. To address this challenge, the team will explore the tempering of seaweed chemistry and associated materials with selected commercial compostable polymers. This approach aims to achieve comparable strain at break, tensile strength, and stiffness to conventional thin film packaging while ensuring home compostability. While previous research and applications have explored the use of seaweed for less economically viable film technologies, the unique contribution of this effort lies in combining varying seaweed chemistries and implementing them as a melt-processable seaweed material.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）I期项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种新型的融化处理的可加工的颗粒，该颗粒是使用源自不同海藻材料的植物胶体制造的。如今，商业塑料包装行业负责石油衍生品的聚合，然后在转化为成品之前对其进行复合或融化。消费者对塑料废物，国内和国际法规的越来越多，以及越来越重视对石油的依赖的重点是推动对可生物降解的包装市场服务的需求，这些解决方案可以在2030年为可生物降解的包装市场提供服务，到2030年，到2030年将增长到8120亿美元。到2030年，通过使用Seaweed的目标，可以替代其他环境，以消除其他环境，以消除其他环境的需求农作物。此外，这项材料技术是为与现有塑料制造基础设施兼容而设计的 - 从而简化了规模和成本竞争力的途径。该项目的预期结果是开发了第一个商业上可行的聚合物材料，主要是从海藻中得出的，这是融化的，可融化的和可堆肥的。这一突破将解锁可再生塑料替代品，该塑料替换符合成本，可伸缩性和环境影响的基本要求。该项目的智力优点着重于开发可行的途径，从而从海藻创造了可融化的可加工颗粒。目的是使用常规机械使这些颗粒的转化以产生灵活的膜包装。克服成功商业化的主要技术挑战是，海藻材料不像传统聚合物一样在合适的加工温度下融化。因此，所得材料不具备柔性包装所需的必要机械性能。为了应对这一挑战，团队将探索与选定的商业堆肥聚合物的海藻化学和相关材料的回火。这种方法旨在达到可比的休息，拉伸强度和与常规薄膜包装的刚度，同时确保家庭合并性。 While previous research and applications have explored the use of seaweed for less economically viable film technologies, the unique contribution of this effort lies in combining varying seaweed chemistries and implementing them as a melt-processable seaweed material.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed honestly of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.