Grant: Alliance Grants
University of Guelph
$201,700.00
Biodegradable plastic truck liners for Ontario deadstock disposal
FY 2023-24
Summary
Disease outbreaks on animal farms can lead to emergency culls that require special handling of carcasses. Special truck liners, called biobags, are used for transportation and disposal to the designated landfill locations. These biobags are currently made from polyethylene (petro-based plastic) and are not biodegradable. They are sourced outside of Canada, at cost of $120/bag. The need in a potential disease outbreak for hog carcasses is estimated at 500 truckloads per week for up to 6 months (total 12,000 biobags). The proposed project will focus on developing cost-effective, biodegradable plastic sheet for biobags to substitute polyethylene. The biobag sheet needs to meet the required properties (puncture resistance, leak protection, biodegradability) and be black in colour. The new film material will be manufactured locally using sustainable biobased resources. Biodegradability is essential to reduce plastic waste in landfills and is aligned with Government of Canada's goals of replacing single-use plastics.
Program
Alliance Grants
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
567206-2021
Name nom
Misra, Manjusri M
Department département
Engineering, School of
Organization id
24
Institution établissement
University of Guelph
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2023
Competition year année de concours
2021
Award amount
201700
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
508
Area of application group en
Manufacturing processes and products
Area of application group fr
Procédés et produits industriels
Area of application en
Polymers, rubber and plastics
Area of application fr
Polymères, caoutchouc et plastiques
Research subject code
2001
Research subject group en
Materials science and technology
Research subject group fr
Materials structure, properties and testing
Research subject en
Science et technologie des matériaux
Research subject fr
Structure, propriétés et essais des matériaux
Application title
Biodegradable plastic truck liners for Ontario deadstock disposal
Keyword
Barrier properties; Biopolymer blend; Flexible film; Puncture resistance; Soil biodegradable
Application summary
Disease outbreaks on animal farms can lead to emergency culls that require special handling of carcasses. Special truck liners, called biobags, are used for transportation and disposal to the designated landfill locations. These biobags are currently made from polyethylene (petro-based plastic) and are not biodegradable. They are sourced outside of Canada, at cost of $120/bag. The need in a potential disease outbreak for hog carcasses is estimated at 500 truckloads per week for up to 6 months (total 12,000 biobags). The proposed project will focus on developing cost-effective, biodegradable plastic sheet for biobags to substitute polyethylene. The biobag sheet needs to meet the required properties (puncture resistance, leak protection, biodegradability) and be black in colour. The new film material will be manufactured locally using sustainable biobased resources. Biodegradability is essential to reduce plastic waste in landfills and is aligned with Government of Canada's goals of replacing single-use plastics.
