PEF
Polyethylene furanoate (PEF) is a bioplastic made from the sugar of plant-based feedstocks such as sugar beets, sugarcane, and corn. It is a versatile bioplastic as it can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality.
Production process
Plant-based materials like sugar beets, sugarcane, and corn are broken down into their constituents through hydrolysis, which involves the use of water and enzymes to break down complex molecules into simpler ones. The resulting product is fermented by microorganisms to form 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA).
This FDCA is then purified and processed to remove its impurities and then mixed with ethylene glycol to finally produce PEF through polymerization.
Material properties
The material is 100% made of plant-based sugars. It has high thermal stability with a melting point of around 211°C. This transparent thermoplastic can be easily moulded and thermoformed into various shapes. It also has excellent barrier properties (e.g., against UV, gas and moisture) compared to PET, thus making it ideal for packaging and outdoor applications.
PEF has high mechanical strength and puncture toughness.
It has potential in packaging applications in the food and beverage industry. PEF can also be used to make textiles, films, and electronic components. Its high-temperature resistance and UV resistance makes it suitable for the outdoors, such as automotive parts and solar panels.
Circular features
PEF utilizes renewable, plant-based resources. It is biocompatible and also biodegradable under the right environmental conditions. It can also be recycled through existing PET recycling streams, thus making it easier to scale up the production. As it can be infinitely recycled and used in the production of new products, it truly is a circular material.
Raw Materials
- Plant-based feedstocks like sugar beets, sugarcane, and corn.
- Enzymes like dehydrogenases, oxidases, etc.
- Generally, Monoethylene glycol (MEG) for polymerization
- Water
Afterlife Plan
- Biodegradable under proper conditions
- Recyclable through existing PET recycling streams