Development of Affordable, Biodegradable, Durable, Disposable Containers for Food Service Utilizing Biomass and Biorefinery By-products

 

2021 USDA-NIFA Integrated Award

 

Principal Investigators and affiliations:

PI:  Dr. Xiuzhi (Susan) Sun, Kansas State University

Co-PI:  Dr. Donghai Wang, Kansas State University

              Dr. Pavel Somavat

Funded: $342,230

Start Date: 2/01/2021

End Date: 1/31/2024

 

Project Goal

To develop high-performance human safe affordable, biodegradable, durable and disposable (HSABDD) containers for food services.

 

Objectives

1. To develop and optimize HSABDD composite formulation using soy flour based adhesives and switchgrass fibers.
2. To fabricate and optimize HSABDD plate.
3. To conduct techno-economic analysis for economic viability of the newly developed HSABDD process

 

Expected Project Outcomes

The final product of this research will be the high-performance human safe affordable biodegradable durable and disposable (HASBDD) containers. The new information and knowledge generated from this research will be a useful reference for further improvements and expand the use of natural fiber biodegradable composites for other types of food service container applications such as bowl and cups. The comprehensive techno-economic feasibility analysis will provide detailed and economically valuable insights about the HSABDD plate production process and facilitate its eventual acceptance by the industry.