Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 8.3 Current commercial suppliers of PHA-based thermoplastic resins used
for packaging, and their product range.
Company
Product Range
Biomer
P209, P300, P226, P304
d
n
2
r
4
n
g
|
3
Goodfellow
Polyhydroxybutyrate
Metabolix
M-Vera
t
B5002, B5010
Mirel
t
P5001, P1003/F1005, P4010
NaturePlast
PHC001, PHE003, PHE008, PHE001, PHI008
Bi-On
Minerv-SB
t
,-SC
t
P&G Chemicals/Meridian Inc.
Nodax
t
Proganic
s
Proganic
TianAn Biologic Materials Co. Ltd.
ENMAT
t
Y1000P
.
Figure 8.4 Photographs of PHA resin supplied as pellets (a) and as blow moulded
bottles (b) (images supplied by Mirel
t
).
Its subsequent FDA approval has led to its use in a wide variety of appli-
cations for food packaging, including compost bags, yoghurt containers,
tubs and food trays as well as sealable cups and pots. Its thermal properties
allow packaged goods to be frozen and microwaved up to 100 1C, while its
biodegradability supports sustainability. Mirel
t
's thermal properties sup-
port its processing by extrusion moulding, while a range of NaturePlast
resins, also used in food packaging, have properties more suitable to in-
jection moulding. In contrast, NaturePlast PHE 008, while advertised as an
80% bio-based PHA resin, is not biodegradable but compostable and can
also be processed through vacuum foaming. Nodax
t
, P(3HB-co-3HHx), is
currently used for detergent bottles, coffee containers and foam containers.
8.5 Factors Affecting PHA Production
One of the prohibiting factors against the use of PHAs as a resin for pack-
aging materials is that it is economically uncompetitive in the current
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