Ainia investigates more efficient technologies to obtain biopolymers from packaging waste

VALENCIA, 23 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Ainia technology center investigates alternative technological solutions to composting for the management of bioplastic waste from packaging within the framework of the Revaloriza II project. The objective is to obtain valuable materials by applying chemical recycling technologies to plastics, once the useful life of the containers ends. These can be used both for the creation of new recycled polymers and for obtaining "high added value" products.

Following the results obtained in the Revaloriza project, in which Ainia obtained polymer precursors from biopackaging waste through sustainable chemical processes, the second part will focus on scaling the applicability of the technologies developed in the first phase, with the aim of provide solutions to the market, as reported by the entity in a statement.

In addition, the chemical development of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) will be carried out, a type of bioplastic "expensive to obtain, but very versatile that is currently obtained through biotechnology." This is a "significant" innovation, since until now it had not been possible to apply chemical recycling processes to PHAs.

Likewise, progress will continue in the development of theoretical computational models and the use of databases with the aim of applying them to the systematic design of polymers based on their composition. "The experimental validation of these predictive models will help us design and synthesize recycled polymers with specific properties for a wide range of applications," said Andrés Sala, from the Packaging Technologies Unit at Ainia.

According to the technology center, the Revaloriza II project represents another step in its commitment to finding sustainable solutions to address the challenge of plastic waste. One of the "most promising and innovative" areas is the development of biopolymers, "as a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics derived from fossil sources."

In addition to their renewable origin, these biopolymers are designed to be biodegradable or compostable, but production is expensive. In this sense, chemical recycling offers the possibility of recovering a large part of the added value of these materials once their useful life ends, both for the creation of new recycled plastics and for obtaining products with high added value at competitive costs in the market.