Different technologies have been applied to isolate the desired components from both feedstocks and preservation conditions for MSW have been evaluated too. Several strains and bacteria have been used to produce the desired bio-monomers (1,5-pentanediamine, muconic acid and adipic acid). Different approaches to improve the productivity of PDA were the hydrolisate is the source of carbon are being evaluated, and a better performance is observed.
The production of AA strains was tested for xylose utilization in complex media. The theoretical maximum concentration from unconcentrated waste hydrolysate is expected to be between 4-5 g/L of adipic acid, but even after cell factory the titers achieved were very low, so this line has been rejected. In the case of CCM production we are currently investigating different strategies to generate stable CCM production strains. Final CCM production strain produces 20.8g/L in MSW hydrolysate at 50L scale. Downstream processing tests (DSP) have been performed on fermentation broth and purified by three different methods. So far the best result allowed to achieve a total yield of 66.4% with a purity of 95.5 of de diacid.
Different components, including gelatine and cod bones, were used to develop different FR. The thermal stability of these products was evaluated because the requirements to process polyamides are very exigent. The formulation of the FR has been optimised and their thermal stability profile studied. Flame retardancy tests were also done and compounded with different PA (PA66 & PA11) in order to find optimal conditions. It was seen that it is possible to have good retardancy properties when 25% FR is added to PA11.
Moreover, edible and barrier coatings have been developed from extracted gelatine as alternative to EVOH. Different parameters were taken into account and well as ratio of components. This allowed to optimize the process and the best conditions in order to obtain OTR values comparable to the commercial barrier packaging. Also, the development of active packaging solutions has been performed. Barrier coating based on water-borne fish gelatine has been applied onto polyethylene/polypropylene and polyethylenterephtale film substrate by means of gravure roll in a semi-industrial lamination equipment. Resin coating weight (g/m2) has been determined and permeability tests have been performed. The scale-up process has been optimised in order to ensure good oxygen permeability.
The production of PA56 with commercial AA and synthetised PDA from the project has been evaluated through different synthetic routes, achieving similar results to the commercial counterparts. Compounds of the FR developed with PA were made and tested in commercial PA66 and PA11. In relation to the modification of muconic acid, high conv.(98%) and select.(86%) achieved with amine based catalysts when converting dimethyl maleate. Working with dimethyl muconate is more challenging as lower activity is shown and higher yields of by products are obtained. Economic analysis and LCA have point out the challenges to overcome to increase the TRL of DAFIA developments.
Conferences: 20
Oral Presentation: 9
Role-up, poster leaflet: 17
Workshop: 3
Presentation: 17
Newsletter: 5
Book chapter: 6
S.Journal: 7
Magazine: 11
PublicAtions: 7
Patents: 2
