Location: Bioproducts Research
Project Number: 2030-41000-067-012-T
Project Type: Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jan 10, 2022
End Date: Jan 10, 2024
Objective:
The goal of this project is to complete research following a highly productive CRADA between the Bioproducts Research Unit (BRU) and Method. Over the last six years, this collaboration has yielded multiple patents, awards, product reformulations and biodegradable, agriculturally-derived packaging compositions, the latter of which are currently being produced at pilot and test market scale These goals will be accomplished through small-scale formulation optimization efforts utilizing the USDA’s chemical synthesis and characterization expertise, melt mixer, twin screw extruder, carver press, and analytical, mechanical, thermal testing equipment.
1. Develop and evaluate biodegradable film compositions as packaging for home and personal care formulas.
2. Develop and evaluate green ingredients, such as preservatives, sunscreens, antioxidants, surfactants and other cleaning and packaging applications. Extend the range of reversible chemistry applications and triggers to enable superior product applications for products.
3. Benchmark the biodegradation rates of chemicals, formulas and materials.
4. Develop and test nanoscale cleaning opportunities leveraging sustainable production methods like blow spinning fibers, sustainable encapsulation & agglomeration methods.
Approach:
The Agricultural Research Service, Bioproducts Research Unit at the Western Regional Resarch Center in Albany, California has considerable research experience in technologies for making biodegradable chemicals and materials with dozens of peer-reviewed publications with emphasis on biodegradable plastics, such films. The technologies utilized include chemical synthesis, formulation, and plastic processing This research all falls within the parameters of parent prject number 2030-41000-067-00D. We identified Method as a strategic partner, continuing this agreement from a highly productive Cooperative Research and Develeopment Agreement (CRADA), to develop biobased chemicals and materials from renewable sources.
