Sugar-based plastic is expected to replace traditional technology

Not long ago, BASF signed a cooperative research agreement for the manufacture of plastics from granulated sugar with Metabolex Co., Inc. of Kaylbridge, Massachusetts. The cooperation period is one year.

The research on the use of fermentation technology for the manufacture of polyester materials using sugar as a raw material by Metabolex has passed small-scale and mid-scale trials. The batch material obtained from the pilot scale is now being supplied to BASF. The research department of BASF researches and researches this. A variety of properties and properties of polyester materials, and further processed into plastic products.

The polyester material made by using biotechnology as a raw material of sugar is a biodegradable plastic and can be widely used in the production of films, fibers, thermoplastic materials, adhesive materials or coating dispersants. The application of this microbial fermentation technology for the production of plastic materials has great development in the future. Looking at this research project as a long-term means of industrial production, this new material not only has important economic significance, but also can be used as a substitute for petroleum products and has a promising future.