Grantee Research Project Results
Planet-friendly and scalable approach towards 100% recyclable water- and oil-resistant paper
EPA Grant Number: SU839830Title: Planet-friendly and scalable approach towards 100% recyclable water- and oil-resistant paper
Investigators: Rabnawaz, Muhammad
Institution: Michigan State University
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020 (Extended to July 30, 2021)
Project Amount: $24,947
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2019) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Chemical Safety
Description:
The widespread use of plastics, as well as their poor recyclability and non-biodegradable nature, have posed a heavy burden on the environment. Paper can replace plastics for certain applications such as single-use plastics, but unmodified paper substrate is a poor barrier against water and oil. To improve its water and oil resistance, paper is often coated with fluorinated chemicals or laminated with thermoplastics. Fluorinated chemicals are highly persistent in the environment, and some of them are toxic, and thus they are non-sustainable. Similarly, the separation of the laminates or coatings from the paper poses a significant challenge. Consequently, precious paper pulp is often wasted. In this study, the goal is to achieve fluorine-free, and 100% recyclable water- and oil-resistant coated paper. The two specific objectives of this proposal are: to fabricate water- and grease-resistant paper using low-cost biobased materials grafted with silicone oil, and to validate the recyclability of pulp from the coated paper.
Objective:
A closed-loop approach for the fabrication of water- and grease/oil-resistant paper will be developed in this study. Our approach is unique as it facilitates 100% pulp recyclability via a plastic- and fluorine-free coating strategy. Water- and oil-resistant coatings will be designed for paper such that the coating can be reversibly attached to the paper substrate, and hence they can be separated from the paper substrate during the repulping process. In this study, biobased polymer that is grafted with silicone oil will be synthesized, and this polymer will be applied onto a paper substrate from an aqueous dispersion as a coating. The biobased polymers will promote the adhesion of the coating to the paper, while the low surface energy silicone will enrich the surface and impart water- and oil-repellency. The water- and oil-resistance of the coated paper will be evaluated via standard protocols. In the next step, the coated paper will undergo a recycling process in which it is dissolved in an acidic aqueous solution. The low pH will help to extract the biobased polymer (along with silicone oil). The recycled pulp will then be characterized to confirm the removal of the coating from the paper substrate.
Expected Results:
During this project, it is anticipated that a fluorine-free and 100% recyclable water- and oil-resistant coated paper will be developed for various applications such as disposable plates and cups, paper straws, and secondary packaging materials (e.g., water-resistant corrugated boxes/paperboard, food-wrappers). This project will enable us to develop an inexpensive plastic-free approach toward recyclable coated paper with great commercial and environmental significance. The fabrication method to be developed herein will offer an alternative to the environmentally harmful paper that is coated (or laminated) with materials such as synthetic latex, fluorinated chemicals, and non-degradable plastics. These findings will encourage various companies (local, national and international) to invest in the technologies developed through this study, which will create more jobs and economic opportunities, thus positively impacting both society and the economy. Papers fabricated via this novel approach will mitigate the extensive environmental pollution generated by the coated and laminated paper in landfills and eliminate the release of fluorochemicals into the environment. This work will also help to clean our planet by reducing the municipal solid waste created due to pulp disposal.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 6 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 2 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
PFAS-free materials, global warming, life-cycle-assessment, eco-friendly materials, marine plasticProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.