MATERIALS | BIOPLASTICS
Right: Renol is a bioplastic made from lignin, a by-product from the forestry industry
can be broken back down into the slurry by mechanical stirring, allowing the DES solvent to be recovered and reused. The bioplastic has numerous applications, say
the researchers, including plastic bags and packaging.
Lignin polymer Lignin Industries of Sweden – which was formerly RenCom – has begun production of a lignin-based polymer called Renol, at a 1,000 tonnes/year plant. Its patented technology converts lignin – a
by-product from the forestry industry – into a renewable material that can replace conventional plastics. It can be used in ratios up to 50 % in applications including films for products such as shopping bags, mulch film or retail bags. The first commercial batches of Renol were
delivered earlier this year. “We are excited to start our production and supply our customers with hundreds of tonnes of material,” said Johan Verendel, chief technical officer at RenCom. The production relies in part on a twin screw
extruder from machinery manufacturer Coperion – allowing production to be scaled up a later date. “We see big potential for this lignin-based
product helping to lower carbon footprint and are proud to support the company,” said Peter von Hoffmann, general manager for engineering plastics and special applications at Coperion.
Natural approach Wheat straw and mango peels – which are normally disposed of in landfills or used as animal feed – could potentially be used to make renewable food packaging. “We should consider using agricultural residues
like wheat straw and mango peels – which are rich in natural polymers and antioxidants – as alternative raw materials to petroleum-based packaging
materials,” said Lindleen Mugwagwa, a postdoc- toral fellow in the department of process engineer- ing at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. In her doctoral study, Mugwagwa identified
ways of extracting polymers and antioxidants from wheat straw and mango peels as a basis for making bio-based, active packaging film. She then com- bined the polymers and antioxidants to make a food packaging material and tested the stability of the biocomposite films when in contact with food – and their potential to release antioxidants into packaged food over time. Low-density polyethyl- ene (LDPE) film was used as a benchmark. “These bio-based films were capable of releas-
ing more antioxidants into food over a short period of time compared to LDPE,” she said. “This sug- gests they can be a replacement for packaging perishables.” Packaging material that releases antioxidants into food – in response to storage conditions – can increase shelf life because they act on free radicals and microorganisms. “These natural antioxidants have the potential to
IMAGE: LIGNIN INDUSTRIES
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