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Abstract:
Bioplastics from renewable resources offer the
intrinsic value proposition of a carbon neutral
footprint and in complete harmony with the natural
biological carbon cycle. This presentation explains
the fundamental principles on which this is based.
To be classified as “bio” or biobased,
the bioplastic or bioproduct must be organic and
contain recently fixed (new) carbon from annually
renewable resources. Identification and quantification
of bio (biobased) content is based on the radioactive
C-14 signature associated with (new) bio carbon
and is measured as the percent weight of bio carbon
to the total organic carbon present in the product.
This approach has been codified in ASTM standard
D6866, and forms the basis of U.S. Federal law
mandating the procurement of biobased products.
This presentation explains the principles of this
test method, and provides examples of the experimental
and theoretical calculations.
However, one has to be careful that the intrinsic
value proposition of a zero carbon footprint in
using bio/renewable feedstocks is not negated
during the conversion to product and ultimate
use and disposal. This presentation reviews how
to compute a product’s carbon and environmental
footprint using LCA (life cycle assessment) tools
and illustrate it with starch foam and poly(lactic
acid) products as examples.
Biobased and biodegradability
are not the same -- not all biboased products
are biodegradable, and not all biodegradable products
are biobased. Complete biodegradability in conjunction
with disposal systems like composting, anaerobic
digestors provides an ecologically sound end-of-life
option by ensuing complete removal of the product
from the environment through the microbial food
chain. However it is very important to ensure
that any degraded fragments generated are completely
consumed by the microorganisms within a short
time in the specified disposal environment, otherwise
there are serious environmental and health consequences.
Presenter:
Ramani Narayan, Michigan State University
Ramani Narayan has 104 refereed publications
in leading journals to his credit, 15 patents,
edited three books and one expert dossier in the
area of bio-based polymeric materials. His research
encompasses design & engineering of sustainable,
biobased products, biodegradable plastics and
polymers, reactive extrusion polymerization and
processing, studies in polymer biodegradation
and composting. He works on LCA (Life Cycle Assessment)
protocols for assessing a product's environmental
stewardship. Another focus area is biofiber -reinforced
composites using synthetic and natural polymer
matrices. Under his supervision, 16 students have
obtained their Master’s degree and six students
have obtained their Ph.D. degrees. He has major
research programs with industry and serves as
consultant for several companies.
He is on the Board
of Directors of ASTM International - a premier
international standards setting organization.
He chairs the committee on Environmentally Degradable
Plastics and Biobased Products (D20.96) and the
Plastics Terminology committee D20.92. He is also
the technical expert for the USA on ISO TC 61
on Plastics - specifically for Terminology (TC61
SC 1) and Biodegradable plastics (TC 61 SC5 WG
22). Dr. Narayan also chairs the scientific committee
of Biodegradable
Products Institute (BPI), North America. --
a biodegradable and biobased plastics trade industry
organization. He has testified before U.S.
congressional hearings on the biodegradable and
biobased plastics issues.
He has also won several
awards including the Governors University Award
for commercialization excellence; University Distinguished
Faculty Award, 2006 - awarded to 10 faculty from
amongst all the faculties at Michigan State University;
2005 Withrow Distinguished Scholar award -- awarded
to one faculty in the MSU College of Engineering
based on exemplary research accomplishments, national
& international recognition; Fulbright Distinguished
Lectureship Chair in Science & Technology
Management & Commercialization (University
of Lisbon; Portugal); First recipient of the William
N. Findley Award for “significant contributions
to the application of new technologies within
the scope of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastic; Research
and Commercialization Award sponsored by ICI Americas,
Inc. & the National Corn Growers Association.
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| Registration Fees |
Individual |
Group |
| SPE Member |
$99.00 |
$150.00 |
| Nonmember |
$150.00 |
$175.00 |
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