SBIR-STTR Award

Northern Technologies International Corporation (NTIC), MN, in collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU), East Lansing, MI, plans to formulate and engineer chemically modified, marine biodegradable, biofiber-based, non-plastic waste bags. These bags will be high strength, lightweight, processable with the Navy equipment and marine biodegradable as per ASTM standard D7081. NTIC will specifically (a) investigate three classes of biobased, non-plastic materials that function as a laminate or as an adhesive depending on the manufacturing process employed (b) investigate two manufacturing processes lamination/extrusion coating of selected paper substrates using the three material classes so as to provide new biobased, hybrid, composite material and nonwoven bag manufacturing process where materials will function as adhesives and provide water resistance, high strength while providing marine biodegradability; and (c) conduct end-of-life testing along with shipboard wastes in a marine environment using the Navy pulping equipment.

Benefit:
Successful implementation of this Phase I proposal will open up a wider range of applications for biodegradable bags that also meet the marine standard, as a majority of these bags end up in ocean waters, if they are not disposed via appropriate channels. In addition, development of water-proof, organic, biofiber technology can be applied in other markets for manufacture of disposable food-service items, such as, paper plates and cups. The proposal will have technical, commercial, environmental and economical impacts in the future, as follows: (1) provide new range of non-plastic, renewable and biodegradable materials for replacing current plastic applications; (2) successful testing of prototypes in specific applications in Phase II of the proposal will open a wide range of product applications such as: consumer paper products, food service items, and bags; (3) greatly increase the use of biobased products which would imply environmental preservation of fossil fuel resources; and (4) create up to 5 jobs for sales, manufacturing, & technical support of newly developed Natur-Tec products.

Keywords:
biofiber, biofiber, Waste bag, Biodegradable, Marine, non-plastic

Northern Technologies International Corporation (NTIC), MN, in collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU), MI, pans to formulate and engineer chemically modified, marine biodegradable, biofiber-based, non-plastic waste bags that are water resistant, readily treatable with other organic wastes in the on-board waste processing equipment and marine biodegradable as defined by ASTM D7081 standard. As part of Phase I, NTIC investigated (1) three classes of biobased, non-plastic materials that function as a coating or as an adhesive depending on the manufacturing process employed; (2) coating of selected paper substrates using silylated soyabean oil to provide new biobased hybrid composite and (3) conducted aqueous biodegradability testing per ISO 14852. Phase I work was successful in coating soya-based non-plastic material onto different grades of unmodified paper to obtain a water-proof and grease-proof paper. Phase II will be directed toward scale-up and process development of coating paper in a large-scale manufacturing set up and convert the coated paper to bags. Development of such a high strength, water-proof, marine biodegradable, and non-plastic waste disposal bag will assist the fleet in reducing their at-sea plastic usage and significantly decrease the volume of plastic waste that must be processed and stored aboard. Furthermore, the newly developed technology would find application in traditional markets for coated paper such as disposable foodservice ware and trash bags.

Benefit:
Development of such a high strength, water-proof, marine biodegradable, and non-plastic waste disposal bag will assist the fleet in reducing their at-sea plastic usage and significantly decrease the volume of plastic waste that must be processed and stored aboard. Furthermore, the newly developed technology would readily find application in traditional markets for coated paper such as disposable foodservice ware, trash bags, paper cups and plates, and specialty paper folders all of which can be also be used by DOD and other Federal agencies the Federal Governments Biopreferred program

Keywords:
Marine Biodegradable, non-plastic, Paper, Coatings, soyabean oil