The new material is a biopolymer (PHB) produced by the bacterial fermentation of agro-industrial waste, specifically wheat straw. The low cost of wheat straw and an optimized fermentation process for increased productivity have enabled the production of PHB at a reduced cost. Specifically, the cost of the final PHB compound is estimated at between €4 and €5.5/kg, which is the price range in which the biopolymer market operates today.
The polymer extraction and purification processes have been developed using solvents that reduce the environmental impact of the PHB production process. Subsequently, the produced PHB is compounded to improve its mechanical properties and processability. After this compounding process, the bioplastic is ready to be processed using traditional plastic transformation technologies such as injection molding, sheet extrusion, and thermoforming. In this case, the production of parts such as a microphone clip, a push button, an egg tray, and a refrigerator water storage tank, as well as a washing machine control button, has been carried out. In another line of work, at a laboratory scale, cellulose nanowhiskers (CNW) and lignin nanoparticles (NL) have been used to produce PHB-based nanocomposites with additional functionalities.
A total of 14 partners make up the BUGWORKERS project consortium. These range from end users such as the video intercom manufacturer FERMAX and the appliance company ARCELIK, to technology centers like Fraunhofer-TIC, NETCOMPOSITES, and TECNALIA, and universities such as IST Lisbon. Biotechnology companies like BIOTREND and plastic processors such as BH INDUSTRIES, EXTRUDER EXPERTS, PROMOLDING, and PROFORM are also part of the consortium.
