Page 39 - Plastics News July 2021

TECHNOLOGY

Transforming Used PET Bottles Bubble scientists aim to pop
into Vanilla Flavoring lightweight drawbacks

he manufacturer of a
FLHQWLVWV IURP WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI (GLQEXUJK KDYH
Sdiscovered that the common bacteria E. coli can be Tliquid foam control and
deployed as a sustainable way to convert post-consumer carbonation aid is stepping
plastic into vanillin. According to the study there are up production at its Leeds,
many different ideas and initiatives to combat the plastic 8. SURGXFWLRQ IDFLOLW\ LQ RUGHU
ZDVWH SUREOHP 5HVHDUFKHUV DW 8QLYHUVLW\ RI (GLQEXUJK DUH to help businesses lightweight
evaluating if PET waste could eventually become vanilla their plastics packaging.
ÁDYRULQJ ´2XU ZRUN FKDOOHQJHV WKH SHUFHSWLRQ RI SODVWLF CO2Sustain’s solution – called
being a problematic waste and instead demonstrates CO2Sustain – helps beverage
its use as a new carbon resource from which high value ÀOOHUV XVH WKLQQHU SODVWLFV LQ
SURGXFWV FDQ EH REWDLQHG µ VDLG 6WHSKHQ :DOODFH SULQFLSOH their packaging, according to
LQYHVWLJDWRU DQG 8.5, IXWXUH OHDGHUV IHOORZ 6FKRRO RI the company. Jonathan Stott (left), business manager
%LRORJLFDO 6FLHQFHV 8QLYHUVLW\ RI (GLQEXUJK 9DQLOOLQ LV DW &2 6XVWDLQ VDLG ´:H DUH KHOSLQJ VRIW GULQNV
the primary component of extracted vanilla beans and manufacturers all over the world to not only cut down
is responsible for the characteristic taste and smell of their plastics use but also save money by using our
YDQLOOD 6FLHQWLVWV IURP WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI (GLQEXUJK XVHG product in their production process. “Lightweighting
lab engineered E. coli to transform terephthalic acid – a is good news for drinks brands and for the planet
molecule derived from PET – into the high value compound but this creates a similar problem to using recycled
vanillin, via a series of chemical reactions. The team also plastics as the integrity of the PET walls of bottles is
demonstrated how the technique works by converting a
used plastic bottle into vanillin by adding the E. coli to the compromised and reduces carbonation shelf life. This
degraded plastic waste. The transformation could boost has the undesirable effect of deterring manufacturers
the circular economy, which aims to eliminate waste, keep IURP GRLQJ LW µ 7KH WKLQQHU WKH SODVWLFV ERWWOH WKH
products and materials in use and have positive impacts more porous it becomes and the quicker the carbonated
EHYHUDJH ZLOO ORVH LWV À]] 7KLV SUREOHP LV PDGH HYHQ
worse when producing and distributing in hot climates,
as hotter climates exacerbate carbon dioxide loss.
Added Jonathan Stott: “In developing CO2Sustain,
our scientists are able to retain carbon dioxide in
FDUERQDWHG GULQNV PDNLQJ GULQNV À]]LHU DQG IRU ORQJHU
This means beverage businesses are free to produce
drinks that use less plastics whilst maintaining the
FDUERQDWLRQ VKHOI OLIH VWDQGDUG RI PRQWKV :LWK
no impact on taste or appearance, our non-silicone
processing aid has the potential to contribute to
for synthetic biology, experts say. Researchers say that PDVVLYH ZDVWH UHGXFWLRQV JOREDOO\ µ 7he developers
WKH YDQLOOLQ SURGXFHG ZRXOG EH ÀW IRU KXPDQ FRQVXPSWLRQ of a patented solution that helps manufacturers of
but further experimental tests are required. Vanillin is FDUERQDWHG GULQNV NHHS WKH À]] LQ WKHLU SURGXFWV IRU
widely used in the food and cosmetics industries, as well longer, have demonstrated their innovative bubble
as the formulation of herbicides, antifoaming agents and technology to soft drink manufacturers.The company
FOHDQLQJ SURGXFWV ´7KLV LV WKH ÀUVW H[DPSOH RI XVLQJ D pioneered the preservative-free, liquid processing
biological system to upcycle plastic waste into a valuable aid which uses an exclusive patented formulation to
LQGXVWULDO FKHPLFDO µ VDLG -RDQQD 6DGOHU ÀUVW DXWKRU DQG retain the CO2 content and help extend the shelf life
BBSRC discovery fellow, School of Biological Sciences,
of carbonated drinks in PET bottles.
8QLYHUVLW\ RI (GLQEXUJK

39 July 2021 Plastics News