EcoSphere

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15 August 2008

Ecosynthetix

USA

Food and Beverage

Storage

"EcoSynthetix has developed a new family of starch adhesives, called EcoSphere.™ By redesigning starch molecules on a molecular level, we have created new biopolymer nanospheres that form high solids dispersions in water with more than one-year shelf life stability. Traditional starch adhesives require water, heat and caustic chemicals to gel the starch. EcoSphere adhesives activate at much lower temperatures and requires no additional chemicals. Benefits include instant tack and faster drying times than traditional starch. EcoSphere adhesives act more like a polyvinyl acetate (PVA) adhesive than a traditional starch adhesive. This opens up new markets and opportunities for our customers to compete in areas that are traditionally closed to starch adhesives."

"Natural starch particles are roughly 30 microns or millionths of a meter wide. Ecosynthetix bases its technology on converting these granules into ones just 50 to 150 nanometers or billionths of a meter large. At that size, the nanoparticles have 400 times more surface area than natural starch granules. This means they require less water when in use for adhesives and thus less time and energy to dry. Instead of running at 350 degrees F, drying can take place at room temperature instead, saving $1 million in natural gas per year, van Leeuwen said. [...] The nanoparticle adhesives could also help replace the polyvinyl acetate, PVA, and polyvinyl alcohol, PVOH, used to help laminate graphics onto cardboard. The market for PVA and PVOH in lamination was $1.3 billion in 2005, van Leeuwen said. The company's first customer in this application is a large Ohio producer of McDonald's clamshells, he added."

Nanoparticles

Surface bound particles