• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.127-134
• /
• 2016

In this study, Biodegradable masterbatch (M/B) was prepared by different kinds and content of biodegradable catalysts added to oxo biodegradable plastics. The bio film was prepared by adding biodegradable M/B to the polyethylene pellet, and the change of physical properties by UV and heat treatment and the stability as food packaging material were confirmed. As a result of the physical property change, Fe salt and Al salt bio film was superior to Ni salt bio film about a decrease in physical property. However, considering the raw material cost and industrial availability, M/B containing Fe salt was selected and additional experiments were conducted by concentration. The bio films prepared with Fe salt M/B 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 wt% showed excellent physical properties.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.499-509
• /
• 2014

Wood filler is a porous and anisotropic material having different size, shape, and aspect ratio. The use of wood fillers such as wood particle, wood flour, and wood pulp in wood plastic composites (WPCs) are growing rapidly because these wood fillers give improved strength and stiffness to WPCs. However, the wood fillers have originally poor compatibility with plastic matrix affecting the mechanical properties of WPCs. Therefore, to improve compatibility between wood and plastic, numbers of physical and chemical treatments were investigated. While the various treatments led to improved performances in WPC industries using petroleum-based plastics, full biodegradation is still issues due to increased environmental concerns. Hence, bio-based plastics such as polylactide and polyhydroxybutyrate having biodegradable characteristics are being applied to WPCs, but relatively expensive prices of existing bio-based plastics prevent further uses. As conventional processing methods, extrusion, injection, and compression moldings have been used in WPC industries, but to apply WPCs to engineered or structural places, new processing methods should be developed. As one system, co-extrusion technique was introduced to WPCs and the co-extruded WPCs having core-shell structures make the extended applications of WPCs possible.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2006.10a
• /
• pp.357-357
• /
• 2006

Many industrial sources of proteins can be used as raw materials to produce films, molded materials, and various hollow items either by "casting" techniques or by "thermoplastic processing". Combining proteins with natural fibbers, paper or biodegradable polyesters is very promising to form biodegradable composites witch take advantage of the barrier and mechanical properties of each component. Using nano-fillers to form nanocomposites has also been shown to be interesting to improve properties. Production, with low transformation cost, of protein based materials to form biodegradable materials with controlled functional properties for food uses, medical uses, packaging, agriculture, controlled release systems, etc. is discussed.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.451-451
• /
• 2003

• Polymer Science and Technology
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.19-23
• /
• 1994

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.338-347
• /
• 2021

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are a family of microbial polyesters that are used as biodegradable plastics in replacement of conventional plastics for various applications. However, the high production cost is the barrier for PHA market expansion. This study aimed to utilize food waste as low-cost feedstock to produce poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) by Haloferax mediterranei. The effects of acetate (Ac), propionate (Pr), butyrate (Bu), and the short-chain carboxylates derived from food waste were examined on the microbial growth and PHBV production. Results showed that a mixture of carboxylates provided a 55% higher PHBV yield than glucose. The food-waste-derived nutrients achieved the yields of 0.41 to 0.54 g PHBV/g Ac from initial loadings of 450 mg/l to 1,800 mg/l Ac of total carboxylates. And the consumption of individual carboxylate varied between different compositions of the carbon source. The present study demonstrates the potential of using food waste as feedstock to produce PHBV by Haloferax mediterranei, which can provide economic benefits to the current PHA industry. Meanwhile, it will also help promote organic waste reduction in landfills and waste management in general.

• Mycobiology
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.285-293
• /
• 2021

Polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) are commercially available bioplastics that are exploited worldwide, and both are biodegradable. The PLA and PCL polymer-degrading activity of 30 fungal strains that were isolated from terrestrial environments were screened based on the formation of a clear zone around fungal colonies on agar plates containing emulsified PLA or PCL. Among them, five strains yielded positive results of biodegradation. Strains Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC) 83034BP and KNUF-20-PPH03 exhibited PCL degradation; two other strains, KACC 83035BP and KNUF-20-PDG05, degraded PLA; and the fifth strain, KACC 83036BP, biodegraded both tested plastics. Based on phylogenetic analyses using various combinations of the sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, RPB2, LSU, CAL, and b-TUB genes, the above-mentioned strains were identified as Apiotrichum porosum, Penicillium samsonianum, Talaromyces pinophilus, Purpureocillium lilacinum, and Fusicolla acetilerea, respectively. Based on our knowledge, this is the first report on (i) plastic biodegraders among Apiotrichum and Fusicolla species, (ii) the capability of T. pinophilus to degrade biodegradable plastics, (iii) the biodegradative activity of P. samsonianum against PCL, and (iv) the accurate identification of P. lilacinum as a PLA biodegrader. Further studies should be conducted to determine how the fungal species can be utilized in Korea.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.596-605
• /
• 2016

In previous years, practice hand grenades were composed of non-degradable plastics and caused environmental pollution. Therefore, this study applied PLA(Polylactic acid) to practice hand grenades that would biodegradable within a short time. High expectations are being placed on PLA as a substitute for plastics because it can decompose to water and carbon dioxide. The aim of this study was to confirm that the PLA material of a practice hand grenade has biodegradability in a pilot-scale composting unit and estimate the applicability for other items. A composting test was progressed according to ISO 16929(2013). The test process was found to be valid. At the end of the composting test (after 12 weeks), the entire content of the test bin with the test sheet was sieved, sorted and analyzed. A disintegration percentage of 99.2% was obtained after 12 weeks of composting. Therefore, the 90% pass level required by ISO 17088(2013), EN 13432(2000), and ASTM D 6400-12 was easily reached. On the other hand, more research will be needed to determine additional applications of PLA material for consumables.

• Clean Technology
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.141-152
• /
• 2015

As environmental issues are emerging, bio-plastic suppliers in leading countries have been foreseeing the strong needs for environment-friendly materials such as eco-packing materials due to increased attention and regulation on recycle. To catch up with the demand, various types of bio-plastics based on natural feedstocks were developed and released on a market. These bio-plastic products drew the great attention even in domestic industries. At present, international oil price fluctuation and heavy charge on waste raise the unit cost of production and disposal expense of conventional plastic materials. These conditions make bio-plastic an alternative, because it is not restrained by oil prices and problem in the disposal. It is also expected that bio-plastic will be applied to various types of products including containers, industrial supplies, disposables, and medical supplies. However, the bio-plastic is still in its infancy, thus more research and understanding should be followed to put it to application. Bio-plastic is considered as environment-friendly material with high potential which has the advantages of production and disposal.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.169-174
• /
• 2021

Today, plastic waste has become a critical social issue due to the increasing of plastic consumption. Korean annual per capita plastic consumption was 132 kg, the most plastic consuming country in the world. Internationally, Carbon Neutral Agreement is underway due to global warming, consumers' interest and needs for biomass-based plastics has also been increased. In this study, film was produced by adding composite use additives to the biomass-based plastics according to concentration, and the resulting changes in discharge volume, melt index, and tensile strength were investigated. Melt index (MI) was significantly higher in PLA and PBAT than in petroleum-based resin LLDPE and LDPE. Also, among the same resin or in the same treatment group, MI has been increased when the heating temperature is increased. The discharge volume and gravity of the BDP-2 to which 4% compatibilizer was added were found to be higher among all treatments, while the tensile strength of MD and TD was also higher. BDP-2 was suitable to the film producing methods for biodegradable film production.