DESIGN & ENGINEERING OF NON-PLASTIC WASTE BAGS BASED ON "BIOFIBER - ORGANIC & INORGANIC MODIFIER" HYBRIDS Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Topic No.: N101-072 Topic Title: DESIGN & ENGINEERING OF NON-PLASTIC WASTE BAGS BASED ON "BIOFIBER - ORGANIC & INORGANIC MODIFIER" HYBRIDS Proposal No.: N101-072-1296 Firm: Northern Technologies International Corporation 4201 Woodland Rd PO Box 69 Circle Pines, Minnesota 55014 Contact: Shilpa Manjure Phone: (763) 225-6646 Web Site: www.ntic.com Abstract: Northern Technologies International Corporation (NTIC), MN, in collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU), East Lansing, MI, plans to formulate and engineer chemically modified, marine biodegradable, biofiber-based, non-plastic waste bags. These bags will be high strength, lightweight, processable with the Navy equipment and marine biodegradable as per ASTM standard D7081. NTIC will specifically (a) investigate three classes of biobased, non-plastic materials that function as a laminate or as an adhesive depending on the manufacturing process employed (b) investigate two manufacturing processes - lamination/extrusion coating of selected paper substrates using the three material classes so as to provide new biobased, hybrid, composite material and nonwoven bag manufacturing process where materials will function as adhesives and provide water resistance, high strength while providing marine biodegradability; and (c) conduct end-of-life testing along with shipboard wastes in a marine environment using the Navy pulping equipment. Benefits: Successful implementation of this Phase I proposal will open up a wider range of applications for biodegradable bags that also meet the marine standard, as a majority of these bags end up in ocean waters, if they are not disposed via appropriate channels. In addition, development of water-proof, organic, biofiber technology can be applied in other markets for manufacture of disposable food-service items, such as, paper plates and cups. The proposal will have technical, commercial, environmental and economical impacts in the future, as follows: (1) provide new range of non-plastic, renewable and biodegradable materials for replacing current plastic applications; (2) successful testing of prototypes in specific applications in Phase II of the proposal will open a wide range of product applications such as: consumer paper products, food service items, and bags; (3) greatly increase the use of biobased products which would imply environmental preservation of fossil fuel resources; and (4) create up to 5 jobs for sales, manufacturing, & technical support of newly developed Natur-Tecr products. Return