Water Environment Research Foundation Launches Research Into Bioplastics Generation from Methane Gas

The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) will begin research to advance bioplastics generation from methane gas at water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). The project, Producing Value-Added Bioplastic from Methane Generated by Water Resource Recovery Facilities (NTRY5R14), will be led by a team of researchers from Mango Materials, Inc.

Bioplastics are plastics derived from renewable sources such as vegetable fats and oils, and corn starch. They are commercially used to produce items such as packaging materials, dining utensils, food packaging, and insulation. The overall objective of this study is to analyze how the bioplastic production process can integrate with operations and be cost effective to WRRFs.

By 2018, the U.S. bioplastics market value is expected to be $5 billion, and bioplastics could capture up to 30 percent of the total plastics market by 2025. This research will represent a significant leap forward in evaluating the overall viability and potential benefits of generating bioplastics from wastewater.

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The Water Environment Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed in 1989, is America’s leading independent scientific research organization dedicated to wastewater and stormwater issues.