SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF NOVEL BIODEGRADABLE POLYESTERS

Project Information

BIODEST

Grant agreement ID: 778092

DOI

10.3030/778092

Project closed

EC signature date 10 November 2017

Start date 1 January 2018

End date 31 December 2022

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 1 395 000,00

EU contribution

€ 1 260 000,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - BIODEST (SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF NOVEL BIODEGRADABLE POLYESTERS)

Reporting period: 2020-01-01 to 2022-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Many plastics are non-biodegradable, use non-renewable starting materials, and involve organic solvents in their production. These factors have a negative impact on our environment. The Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) project BIODEST had as its research objective the Synthesis, Characterization, Structure, and Properties of Novel Biodegradable Polyesters. The project aimed to strengthen the leading role of Europe in the green production of more sustainable plastics to preserve our environment.
The project's overall objective was to improve the skills and knowledge of the participating partners on novel biodegradable polyesters and to promote collaboration between them. This goal has been reached by staff exchanges between partners and networking events and training, leading to several Ph.D. and M.Sc. theses and many high-quality scientific publications in reputed specialized journals.
BIODEST assembled an excellent interdisciplinary team: University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU-POLYMAT, Spain), University of Mons (UMONS, Belgium), University of Genoa (UNIGE, Italy), University of Birmingham (UoB, U.K.) and five non-EU Research Organizations: University of Tulane (UTulane, USA), Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Science (ICCAS, China), Simón Bolívar University (USB, Venezuela), University of Stellenbosch (SU, South Africa) and Yamagata University (UYamagata, Japan). Moreover, a non-academic European (a SME) organization, “Ingeniería de valorización de residuos” (Ma+D), collaborated in the networking activities. The specialties of the different groups are complementary, which allowed catalyzing the growth of this vital field for environmental preservation.
The secondees were trained in novel techniques, took part in courses, and shared their knowledge through meetings, conferences, lectures, and by reintegration into their sending institutions. Those visiting the company Ma+D also got essential insights into this sector. These facts considerably improve their skills and positively affect their CVs. Overall more than 163 PM (thereof 157 PM eligible for EU-funding) of secondments were successfully implemented.
In the BIODEST project, we successfully developed biobased and biodegradable polymer formulations that could substitute traditional plastics, and we also promoted the use of Green Chemistry. Amongst the most important materials produced within the project are several copolyesters and blends of copolyesters/polyesters with potential applications in biodegradable packaging and adhesives. Furthermore, some special polymers were developed with special topologies (cyclic chains, branched chains, combs) that proved useful as additives to improve the crystallizability and properties of biodegradable poly(lactic acid).

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

BIODEST research was focused on: a) the preparation of monomers (WP1) and polyesters (WP2) using green chemistry approaches, b) the investigation of their structure, thermal and mechanical properties as a function of their chemical structure (WP3), and, c) the design of new materials for industrial (packaging) (WP4) and biomedical applications (WP5). All WPs finished all promised deliverables and reached all the milestones promised.
In WP1, BIODEST designed new routes to produce functional low molecular weight molecules using renewable sources such as CO2, monomers from the biomass (Eucalyptus, Poplar, flax) or monomers from polymer recycling, as well as small biobased molecules that can act as nucleating agents for polyesters (Ma+D, UMONS, and UNIGE).
In WP2, BIODEST used the biobased monomers obtained in WP1 and others to prepare biodegradable polyesters and copolyesters by solvent-free (i.e. green) polymerization (UoB, UMONS, UTulane, and UPV/EHU). So, a new library of biobased and biodegradable plastic materials has been obtained in this project.
To compete with commercially available plastics, in WP3, we analyzed the relationship between the structure and the properties of biodegradable polyesters, copolyesters, and their blends (UPV/EHU, USB, UNIGE, and ICCAS). The properties of the produced polymers were tailored by changing copolymer composition, blend composition, adding nucleating agents and other additives, or by changing thermal history.
In WP4, the possibility of substituting traditional oil-based polymers, like polyethylene and polypropylene, with biodegradable alternatives in fields like packaging, water bottles, and plastic bags was explored. In this sense, polyester-based blends and nanocomposites were the most successful materials prepared (UPV/EHU, USB, ICCAS, and UNIGE).
Finally, some of the new polyesters/copolyester formulations may find applications in nanomedicine due to their biodegradability and the utilization of “green” polymerization methods. Thus, in WP5, self-assembly, gels, and drug delivery applications were explored (UoB and SU).
In conclusion, biodegradable polyester/copolyesters adequately formulated through green chemistry have a very high potential to substitute non-biodegradable plastics for specific applications (i.e. packaging, mulch films, bottles, adhesives) and also can be helpful in preparing unique materials for biomedical applications (bioabsorbable materials, drug delivery systems, tissue engineering).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

From a scientific point of view, this project has contributed to the preparation of new biobased monomers, polymers, and copolymers. We have innovated in green chemistry, and in doing so, we also produced new biodegradable polymeric materials that could substitute traditional plastics. The applications aimed for are those with a low environmental impact (producing new polyesters or copolyesters with tuned properties for packaging or biomedical applications).
We contributed to enhancing the potential and future career perspectives of the BIODEST staff members by offering international training in new techniques and methods, enriching their personal network, and building long-lasting collaborations and relationships. All of these facts lead to the enrichment of the CV of each of the BIODEST secondees. On the other hand, BIODEST achieved the transfer of knowledge between the participating organizations and contributed to improving research and innovation potential at the European and global levels. The BIODEST network is very active in disseminating the project’s results, 70 publications up to now and is very well on track to reach the estimated impact. The results have been presented at 52 international conferences. The partners of BIODEST have also been active in outreach activities to the general public to create awareness about their research work and the value of European and international collaboration as a driving force for scientific excellence and economic growth.

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