Bioplastech BPL
About
Bioplastech is an Irish SME with patented technology for the manufacture and processing of a range of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers from sustainable and waste resources. Bioplastech’s team is made-up of highly skilled biotechnologists, process scientists and engineers with lab, pilot and industry scale expertise.
We develop reliable reproducible technologies that allow stable output of biopolymer or biobased chemical production by microorganisms. We define, evolve and realize processes at lab and pilot scale with high product titre and high volumetric productivity.
Bioplastech is also a product developer and solutions provider. Key to the company’s success to date has been the production of biopolymers known as medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate (mcl-PHA). These mcl-PHAs are elastomers and are more flexible than any other PHA-polymers currently on the market. Bioplastech also has extensive knowhow in the production and purification of short chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates (scl-PHAs).
Bioplastech has developed several blends and composites of both scl-PHA and mcl-PHA and has significant know-how on the blending of these polymers with other polymers both traditional petrochemical and other biodegradable polymers.
Role in Upcycle
In the upcycle project Bioplastech is work package leader for WP3: Scalable fermentation of plastic hydrolysates and renewable feedstock. As part of this work package, Bioplastech will focus on the process optimization and upscaling of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production from waste plastic hydrolysate especially PET and PBAT hydrolysate in collaboration with UCD.
In addition we will be focusing on the process intensification of medium chain length PHA from PET hydrolysate. The produced polymers will be extracted, characterized and provided to WP4 to test its suitability for industrial applications. Bioplastech will also play a key role in tech transfer of the most promising technologies.