Sustainable manufacture of biodegradable film packaging from recalcitrant waste streams

We aim to convert complex mixtures of chemicals in exemplar liquid effluents into bio-based and biodegradable polymer composites by combining a new microalgal-bacterial treatment method with ionic liquid extraction for biochemical separation and polymer synthesis. We will create a new narrative for material synthesis, where the chemical make-up of microbial cells will be controlled through manipulation of the cultivation conditions, and thereby dictating the macromolecular composition and structures of extracted biochemicals. We will target two exemplar waste streams, present in large volumes and with varying degrees of recalcitrancy: domestic leachate (from landfills) and industrial leachate (from composting). Despite the huge volumes of leachates produced each day, they are not considered a feedstock, and therefore the resources within them remain untapped. The resulting chemical feedstock will be converted into barrier coatings for packaging. There is no process currently in place to manufacture materials from waste effluents such as leachates. Integration of these novel cost-effective technologies and a comprehensive technoeconomic assessment (TEA) will allow us to validate the sustainability and carbon footprint of this new manufacturing pipeline.