SUPERVISOR: Thomas ROSENAU

PROJECT ASSIGNED TO: Nikolaus TWAROCH

The modern food system is not sustainable. In agriculture, unavoidable loss is generated, as not all parts of a plant or crop are used or fit for human consumption. In further processing of food single use plastics are being used ubiquitously, usually produced from fossil resources. This research combines these two issues, as it aims to produce thermoplastic materials from food by-products (FBs). In this project, we aim to chemically modify non-fractionated biomass feedstocks. Different esterification approaches will be tried, to understand their mechanisms in the -as of yet- untested FBs. We will empathize esterification approaches that follow green chemistry principles. Reagents and conditions that allow water to be present are favourable, as FBs are hygroscopic; hence, water is inherently present and would require special drying procedures to remove. The esterification conditions and reactants will be controlled to fine-tune the mechanical properties of the produced thermoplastic material. Analytical techniques specific to these raw material streams and the produced materials are then established. The composite thermoplast is then processed and the suitability for common manufacturing methods is analysed.