Recycling process trains of waste bioplastics

The objective of Sus-Bio-plastics is to develop new biotechnological waste-to-value chains for the most promising (based on market share value) bioplastics by implementing innovative microbially mediated practices.

To achieve this aim, the project is structured under 3 innovation pillars, regarding 2 processes and 1 tool for integrating sustainability in waste management of bioplastics (1 non-biodegradable (bio-PE) and 3 biodegradable (PLA, PHB and TPS)).

Microalgal-bacterial or bacterial communities will be exploited as a biotechnological tool to formulate a stable metapopulation capable of degrading bioplastics.

In case mechanical recycling is considered as the best end-of-life option, a bioclean-up process of the weathered layer of the bioplastics PLA and bio-PE will be developed.

This process will serve as a pretreatment stage prior to mechanical recycling which will yield near virgin pellets holding the capacity to enter the recycling stream.

In case organic recycling is the best end-of-life option, a new bio-recycling route will be developed to treat waste biodegradable bioplastics (PHB and TPS) and produce high-value compounds.

The mutualistic interplay between microalgal and bacterial species will be capitalized towards bioplastics upcycling and minimization of CO2 releases, constituting a highly novel approach which has not been previously explored.