• Overview
• Data and Facts
• Sectors
• Services
• Location
• Technology transfer
• Research and Development
• Incubator and Incentives

Address

Z.I. Brancaccio Via Filippo Pecoraino
90124 Palermo
(Sicily)

Telephone

+39 091 6215653

Fax

+39 091 6214343

World Wide Web

www.pstsicilia.org

Research and Development

USE OF SCRAP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIOLOGICALLY DEGRADABLE POLYMERS (PHA) FOR AGRICUTURE AND AGRAR-INDUSTRY

Description

By means of the research project, relevant methodological knowledge could be acquired, which proved to be useful in the application of scrap material from the agrar-industry. Among them are: vegetable oils and fatty acids as renewable sources for the microbial conversion into products of economic interest such as polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) for the production of biologically degradable foils for agricultural and the agrar-industry.

Aim

Two biologically degradable foils were produced and tested, which are usable for different purposes. Both products were investigated in field trials for their abilities regarding air perviousness and water resistance, their fatigue life and the versatility in use. Thereby what was examined was whether they match traditional foils emanating from the petro-chemical industry and whether they are superior to the other already tested biologically degradable materials. New test series were started, which ranged from the manufacture of PHA from plants via the gene transfer of PHA synthase to the investigation of use possibilities in new areas requiring plastic foils. The currently most important aim is the testing of plastic bags for bio-waste disposal and for shopping bags.