Carbon fibre – Turning bacteria into bioplastic factories 30-08-2024
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Avient Corporation has introduced OnColor™ REC Polymer Colorants, a sustainable solution made from recycled content, such as end-of-life tires
These colorants serve as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional carbon black formulations, enabling manufacturers to reduce their product carbon footprint (PCF).
OnColor REC Polymer Colorants match the performance of traditional carbon black in plastics, offering versatility across various resins and available in both standard and custom color formulations. They comply with stringent regulatory standards, including REACH, RoHS, and TÜV Rheinland certifications, with Proposition 65 letters available upon request. Carbon fibre
Felipe Reichert, Avient’s Global Marketing Director for Color, Additives & Inks, highlighted the launch as a response to the growing demand for sustainable colorant options, reinforcing the company’s dedication to innovation and environmental responsibility.
Available across the United States and Canada, OnColor REC Polymer Colorants cater to diverse industries, such as automotive, construction, electronics, textiles, and more. A PCF calculation can be provided to users upon request. Carbon fibre
For additional details and to request a PCF calculation, visit www.avient.com or call 1-844-4AVIENT.
Turning bacteria into bioplastic factories
Biologists find new ways to encourage the plastic-producing power of purple microbes
In a world overrun by petroleum-based plastics, scientists are searching for alternatives that are more sustainable, more biodegradable and far less toxic to the environment.
In a world overrun by petroleum-based plastics, scientists are searching for alternatives that are more sustainable, more biodegradable and far less toxic to the environment. Two new studies by biologists at WashU highlight one potential source of game-changing materials: purple bacteria that, with a little encouragement, can act like microscopic factories for bioplastics. Carbon fibre
Two new studies by biologists at Washington University in St. Louis highlight one potential source of game-changing materials: purple bacteria that, with a little encouragement, can act like microscopic factories for bioplastics.
A study led by graduate student Eric Conners found that two relatively obscure species of purple bacteria have the ability to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), natural polymers that can be purified to make plastic. Carbon fibre
Another study led by research lab supervisor Tahina Ranaivoarisoa showed that genetic engineering could coax a well-studied but notoriously stubborn species of purple bacteria to dramatically ramp up its production of PHAs.
Sigmatex, a UK-based carbon fibre textiles manufacturer, has completed a significant expansion at its North American facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina, increasing its weaving capacity by 50 per cent
This enhancement, achieved by adding a new production cell, is in response to growing demand from the space, aerospace, and defense industries.
Paul McMullan, CEO of Sigmatex, emphasized the importance of this investment for the company’s growth in the US over the next five years, stating that their commitment to quality, service, and technical excellence has been well-received in the market.
The 75,000-square-foot Orangeburg facility, opened in 2015, is Sigmatex’s most advanced site, equipped with proprietary Flat Tow technology and accredited with AS9100D and DNV certifications. Carbon fibre
It serves as the primary supply hub for North America, offering scalable and cost-effective manufacturing solutions.
McMullan also highlighted Sigmatex’s ongoing commitment to innovation, stating that further investments in technology, digitalisation, and data-driven enhancements are planned. These efforts aim to meet future demand while maintaining a strong focus on quality, positioning the company for a promising future in the US market. Carbon fibre
Carbios, a leader in biological technology, has partnered with UK-based recycling and waste management firm FCC Environment UK to explore the establishment of a PET biorecycling plant in the UK
The companies have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to jointly study the feasibility of this facility, which would utilize Carbios’ innovative enzymatic depolymerization technology to recycle PET plastic and textile waste into “virgin-like” products without the use of solvents.
This partnership comes at a time when recycling progress in the UK has stalled, despite government support for a circular economy. Carbios sees biorecycling as a crucial step toward real environmental change. Carbon fibre
The proposed plant would process PET waste that is currently non-recyclable with traditional methods, such as colored, multilayered, or textile-based PET.
Carbios aims to become a leading technology provider in PET recycling by 2035, with this UK facility building on their existing plant under construction in Longlaville, France. The collaboration with FCC Environment would grant Carbios access to a steady supply of feedstock through FCC’s established waste collection systems, improving the efficiency and impact of their sustainable recycling solution. Carbon fibre
CEO Emmanuel Ladent emphasized that this partnership could enhance Carbios’ ability to address the plastic waste crisis by bringing advanced recycling technology to the UK market.
A team of South Korean scientists has made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of electric vehicle batteries, developing a battery that can recharge in just 5 seconds
Led by Professor Jeung Ku Kang from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the team focused on sodium-ion (Na+) batteries, which have long been considered a potential alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to their lower cost. However, achieving the desired performance has been challenging—until now.
The South Korean researchers have successfully created a hybrid sodium-ion battery that surpasses the energy density of traditional lithium-ion batteries and matches the power density of supercapacitors. Carbon fibre
This was achieved by developing a new anode material with improved kinetics, incorporating fine active materials within porous carbon derived from metal-organic structures.
The result is a battery with an energy density of 247 Wh/kg and a power density of 34,748 W/kg, enabling it to recharge in an astonishing 5 seconds. This advancement represents a major leap forward in electric vehicle technology, offering a solution to the long-standing challenge of slow charging times. Carbon fibre
This revolutionary battery not only promises faster charging but also provides higher storage capacity, making it a viable and more affordable alternative to current lithium-ion batteries in electric cars. The development is poised to significantly impact the future of electric mobility, making rapid charging a reality.
Röchling Industrial invests close to €10M in recycling centre
Röchling aims to process more than 10,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year in the new sustainability centre
Röchling Industrial announced it is investing almost €10 million to create a sustainability centre at its industrial recycling plant in Geeste-Dalum, Germany. Carbon fibre
The Germany-based plastics processor first opened the plant in March 2021, where it cleans, sorts, and grounds post-industrial PE and PP from its own production and from its customers. Röchling then reprocesses the recyclates into semi-finished technical plastic products at its plant in Haren.
By 2027, the Geeste-Dalum recycling centre will be expanded to cover an area of more than 30,000 square metres, up from the original 6,300 square metres. Röchling aims to process more than 10,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year in the new sustainability centre. Carbon fibre
Several new shredders as well as grinding and production plants will be added to the sorting plant, Röchling said in a statement. The company will also add a modern office building and a new production hall over 4,000 square metres in size. Both will be equipped with a large-scale photovoltaic system to use electricity from renewable energies. In total, the expansion and the associated increase in capacity will create around 20 new jobs.
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