Project: Biodegradable polymer production process from the food industry as raw material for 3D printing

The project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Fund for Regional Development, which is implemented as part of the Operational Program Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014–2020.

Summary of the project

The company CROTEH d.o.o., the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, and the Croatian Agency for Small Economy, Innovations, and Investments (HAMAG BICRO) signed Grant Agreement No. PoC8_8_35 for the implementation of the project “Biodegradable polymer production process from the food industry as raw material for 3D printing.”

The project involves creating a prototype and demonstrating the technical feasibility of the PHA production process from waste yeast from the food industry. It will also examine the possibility of using the produced PHA as raw material for 3D printing.

The total value of the project is HRK 722.277,00. Grant awarded amount to HRK 499.423,70.

The estimated duration of the project is 18 months.

Project implementation period 

The project was implemented from December 1, 2019 to May 31, 2021.

The general goal of the project

The main goal of the project is to verify the concept of the production process of a biodegradable polymer, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), from waste streams of the food industry, its biodegradability, and the possibility of using it as a raw material for 3D printing.

Purpose of the project (specific objectives)

  1. Verification of the concept of the production process of biodegradable polymer polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) from waste streams of the food industry, verification of biodegradability, and the possibility of its use as a raw material for 3D printing

  2. Prototyping and demonstration of the technical feasibility of the PHA production process from waste yeast from the food (brewery) industry

  3. Checking the possibility of using the produced PHA as a raw material for 3D printing

Expected results of the project

  • A prototype of the technological solution for the biodegradable polymer production process was created
  • A minimum of 12% PHA of waste yeast organic matter was successfully synthesized
  • Confirmed minimum 90% biodegradability of PHA
  • Confirmed minimum biodegradability of PHA
  • The possibility of using the produced PHA as a raw material for 3D printing has been confirmed
  • A market analysis was made

  • The total value of the project is: HRK 722.277,00 (EUR 95.822,01)

  • Total acceptable costs amount to: HRK 499.423,70 (EUR 66.301,64)

For more information about the project, contact Goran Lukić at: info@croteh.eu

Results after project implementation

  • A prototype of the technological solution for the biodegradable polymer production process was created
  • Successfully synthesized 12.6% PHA from waste yeast organic matter
  • Achieved biodegradability of PHA, which is 97.83% ± 0.91%
  • 3D printing produced a sample, a solid and stable cube with dimensions (width x height x depth) of 20.1x19.8x19.7 mm
  • A market analysis was made.

For more information about the European Structural and Investment Funds, visit www.strukturnifondovi.hr

For more information about the Operational Program Competitiveness and Cohesion, visit http://www.strukturnifondovi.hr/op-konkurentnost-i-kohezija-2014-2020-779

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