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What We Did
Some of our UC researchers in Department of Chemical and Process Engineering have been developing practical methods to manage current environmental issues such as global warming, industrial waste treatment, excessive energy usage, lack of irrigation, and microplastics. An example is that our researchers are currently developing methods to convert breweries’ spent grain waste to biodegradable plastics and will be making films out of these plastics. These films can be used to mulch soil to minimise drying and weeds growing. Thus, we could reduce direct disposal of waste to the environment, energy usage for irrigation and the necessary removal of mulch films at the end of its lifespan with this innovation. Additionally, our researchers are establishing environmentally benign methods to produce biodegradable plastic foams, so that even if these products are departed to the environment, this will not result traces of microplastics. Furthermore, a technique where raw meat could be sterilised without altering the meat attributes has been explored. From this advanced technology, we are able to transport and export meat without the application of cold chain which requires high energy consumption. This new approach can positively revolutionise the NZ meat market that earns current sales of $10 billion per year. Another research area is extracting oil from food sources such as seafood. This oil extraction market in NZ contributes yearly sales of $1 billion. Our researchers are currently developing novel technology that could replace the conventional oil extraction applications. The new technique will be able to extract oil without leaving traces of harmful chemicals in the products and substantially reduce the energy consumption in the pre-treatment of food sources. To ensure these advancing technologies will have significant market value, market validations were implemented via actively communicating with the local companies and government bodies.
Who Was Involved
Environment Canterbury, landscape companies, beer brewery companies, mussel farmers and oil extracting companies, meat processing companies.
Why It Matters
Environmental and climate issues are no more than creating mass uncertainties to our economy and way of life. If we do not undertake preventive and reduction measures promptly, not only we are unable to set back time but the world will be struggling immensely with all the adverse disasters that just began. Simultaneously, we are also surrendering the modern conveniences that could be providing the resilient changes to our world. Therefore, we need to emerge methods that utilise materials and energy that will save our environment and climate. Considering the nature of chemical and process engineering, this discipline can play an important role in developing practical and direct solutions to these global matters.
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Photo Caption:
Heon Park is discussing biodegradable mulch films and foams with research students (left: Lilian Lin, right: Lauren King).
