BIODEST · SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF NOVEL BIODEGRADABLE POLYESTERS

SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF NOVEL BIODEGRADABLE POLYESTERS

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).

Data: CORDIS, © European Union