Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 16

[ BRIEFS ] swatches
Bacterium used to make biodegradable,
edible plastic packaging alternative
S
cientists at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have
developed an edible and biodegradable material that may be
an alternative to conventional plastic food packaging.
The material is made from bacterial cellulose (BC), a network of
thin cellulose nanofibers synthesized by bacteria. Until now, the use
of BC has been limited because of its sensitivity to humidity, which
causes it to break down.
CUHK researchers were able to conquer this challenge by adding
a bio-based composite coating to the material that allows it to
remain stable in water.
The material was created by combining secreted cellulose from
the bacterium Komagataeibacter xylinus, a sustainable, nontoxic
bacterium, with soy protein isolated
from soybeans. This bacterium is often
fermented to make kombucha tea.
Unlike plastic packaging, the
material completely degrades in one
to two months, rather than hundreds
of years. Neither does the process
require industrial composting.
It is safe for humans and animals
alike to consume, and because it is not
made from plant cellulose, producing
it doesn't require harvesting crops or
trees, eliminating the need to disrupt
wildlife habitats. It also boasts a higher
tensile strength than plant cellulose
because of the integrated soy protein.
Researchers created single-use
bags from the material which were
suitable for storing bread, snacks,
candy and similar foods. They also
made drinking straws and found that
they were more water-resistant than
commercial paper straws, remaining
intact after being immersed in both
acidic and alkaline drinks for 24 hours.
" The material developed in this
research is completely edible, making it
safe for turtles and other sea animals to
consume without causing aquatic toxicity
in the ocean, " says To Ngai, professor in
the department of chemistry.
The researchers' next steps include
ABOVE: Two different experimental groups:
Bacterial cellulose grown in the open air in
a tea medium (left) and grown in an oven
for seven days (right). After purification, the
product is dried before being made into
the packaging material.
RIGHT: By incorporating soy protein into a
structure made of bacterial cellulose and
coating it with an oil-resistant composite,
researchers created an edible, transparent
and biodegradable packaging.
Images: Chinese University of Hong Kong
developing a thermosetting glue that
can create strong bonds between
BC, allowing it to be easily molded
into different shapes when heated,
increasing its applicability.
This study was published in the
Society of Chemical Industry's Journal
of the Science of Food and Agriculture
in June 2023.
16 SPECIALTY FABRICS REVIEW / November 2023

Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023

Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - Cover1
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - Cover2
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 1
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 2
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 3
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 4
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 5
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 6
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 7
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 8
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 9
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 10
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 11
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 12
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 13
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 14
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 15
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 16
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 17
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 18
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 19
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 20
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 21
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 22
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 23
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 24
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 25
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 26
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 27
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 28
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 29
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 30
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 31
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 32
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 33
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 34
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 35
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 36
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 37
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 38
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 39
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 40
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 41
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 42
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 43
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 44
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 45
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 46
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 47
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 48
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 49
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 50
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 51
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - 52
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - Cover3
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - Cover4
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - WTS_Postcard 1
Specialty Fabrics Review November 2023 - WTS_Postcard 2
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-february-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-january-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-december-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-november-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-buyers-guide-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-buyers-guide-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-november-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-buyers-guide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-buyers-guide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0121RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1220RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1120RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1020RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0920RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0820RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0720RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0620RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/RVBG20
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0520RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0420RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0320RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0220RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0120RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1219RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1119RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1019RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0919RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0819RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0719RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0619RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/RVBG19
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0519RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0419RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0319RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0219RV_Feb
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0119RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1218RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1118RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1018RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0918RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0818RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0718RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0618RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0518RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/RVBG18
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0418RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0318RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0218RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0118RV
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com