Page 61 - Plastics News February 2020

teChnoLogy

IIT-Bombay develops plastic-like films for packaging industry

n an effort to counter from renewable sources such as corn starch, tapioca roots
Iplastic pollution, or sugarcane, but is three times the cost of the standard
the Indian Institute of HDPE films. “Developing biodegradable alternatives to
Technology – Bombay plastic is a major need since single-use plastic has become
(IIT-B) has developed a global challenge in terms of environmental hazards,”
plastic-like films for said Rinti Banerjee, Madhuri Sinha Chair Professor,
the packaging industry department of biosciences and bioengineering. Describing
that can degrade into their work as a conscious spin-off, Banerjee said, “We have
harmless components. been developing non-toxic materials and technologies for
The institute has various medical applications that have to degrade in the
developed a product body, and therefore felt our knowledge of biomaterials can
that is a combination of address the need of biodegradable alternatives to plastic
non-toxic, edible sugar- that can be degraded completely and are also suitable
based or fat-based biopolymers approved by the Food for reuse.” For the last two years, they have developed
Safety and Standards Authority of India that can degrade different kinds of primary film-based plastic packaging
in about a week or a month. Researchers said at present that can degrade from a week to a month. The plastic
high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is the standard non- film’s transition from being transparent to translucent
degradable plastic barrier film, used for both consumer based on the composition of the polymers.The low-cost
goods and food, by most packaging industries in India and invention comprises films three times the tensile strength
overseas. Those making a switch to environment-friendly of the HDPE films and six times that of PLA films . This is
alternatives opt for sugarcane bagasse or starch containers nearly one-third the cost of PLA films, said Banerjee. A
or imported biodegradable barrier films made of polylactic patent for technology development and composition of
acid (PLA).HDPE is made from petroleum which is a non- the biodegradable material has been filed and at present,
renewable source. The monomer for PLA is usually derived the technology is being scaled up.

61 Februar y 2020 Plastics News