NEWS
Large-scale production of bioplastics from residual flows one step closer
Towards a sustainable production of bioplastics from residual flows, PHA2USE and the Interreg NWE project WoW! recently took another important step. In the first extraction campaign on a pilot scale, more than 18 kg of PHBV from sewage sludge was produced. This PHBV, a fully biodegradable bioplastic, is now being tested by companies on various commercial applications. The production of bioplastics from wastewater takes place by means of bacteria in sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants. These bacteria are able to convert organic substances in the wastewater into the bioplastic PHBV. This PHBV is then stored by the bacteria in their cells. To make the PHBV suitable for use, it must first be removed from the cells. This is done by means of extraction. Until now, this extraction has only been performed on a smaller scale. PHA2USE and Interreg NWE project WoW! have now also succeeded in extracting PHBV on a larger scale. This paves the way for large-scale bioplastic production from wastewater. This extraction is the lead-up to the production of larger quantities in the PHA2USE project.
12 | INNOVATIVE MATERIALS 5 2021
The installation required for this is under construction and will be commissioned in early 2022. The more than 18 kg of PHBV that has been extracted will initially be made available to four companies that are active in the processing of (bio)plastics. These companies will look at the application of the PHBV in their products. A major advantage of PHBV is that it is strong but can also be completely degraded under natural conditions. This makes the PHBV interesting for temporary applications such as in agriculture.
Cooperation
This milestone in the scaling up of PHBV production has been made possible by a unique collaboration between five Dutch water authorities, HVC, Paques Biomaterials and research partners Wetsus and Avans University of applied sciences. Paques Biomaterials> WoW! (Wider business Opportunities for raw materials from Wastewater)>
