Projects 
Whole Green Composites
Whole green composites are the composites that is made from both renewable resource based polymer (biopolymer) and biofiller. Whole green composites are recyclable, renewable, triggered biodegradable and could reduce the dependency on the fossil fuel to a great extent when used in interior applications. Whole green composites could have major applications in automotive interiors, interior building applications and major packaging areas.
The major research areas in whole green composites include:
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Renewable resourse-based biodegradable polymers (polyhydroxyalkanoates, polylactides, cellulose esters and starch plastics)
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Petroleum-based biodegradable polymers (aliphatic polyesters and aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters)
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Soy-based bioplastics (soy oil-based thermoset resins and soy protein-based thermoplastic)
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Polyols from plant oils and biobased polyurethanes
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Biobased polyesters/epoxies and their biomaterials
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Natural Fiber Composites/Biocomposites
Increasing environmental awareness and inconsistency in petroleum pricing give way to the natural fiber composites or biocomposites to be a potential substitute of existing synthetic fiber composites. Low cost, light weight, recyclability and easy availability, thermal insulation, carbon dioxide neutrality and acceptable strength and stiffness are the other advantages that make biocomposites more desirable.
Petroleum based polymers reinforced with biofibers as well as biopolymers (renewable resource based polymer) reinforced with synthetic fibers can be treated as biocomposites. More attention is being given to biofiller/bioreinforcement. Jute, hemp, kenaf, flax, Pineapple leaf, Banana fiber, sisal, henequen, cotton, kapok, coir are being used as biofiller in thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers to develop composites through reactive extrusion, injection molding, thermoforming, resin transfer molding and compression molding techniques. Chicken feather, bone, scales of marine animals and lamb wool are also used as biofiller in composites. Currently, attempts are being made to promote agricultural waste fibres i.e. wheat straw, soy stalk, corn stalk, and grass fibres i.e. switch grass and miscanthus as reinforcing filler in biocomposites.
The major research areas in biocomposites include biofiber reinforcement in:
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Petroleum-based conventional polymers (polyolefins, polyvinylchlorides, polycarbonate, acrylobutadienestyrenes, nylons etc.)
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Petroleum-based biodegradable polymers (polycaprolactum, polybutylenesuccinate, ecoflex, esterbio etc.)
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Polytrimethylene terephthalate and blends
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Thermoset resins (polyester, epoxies etc.)
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Biodegradability and Compostability Studies of Biopolymers and Green Composites
Compostable Plastics are a new generation of plastics that undergo degradation by biological process during composting to yield carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass at a rate consistent with other known compostable materials and leave no visible, distinguishable or toxic residue. Compostable materials made from biopolymers are being introduced into the market to allow recovery by municipal organic waste collection systems. Current legislation encourages polymer processors to seek more environmentally friendly materials with sustainable life cycles as composting at the end of life is an attractive route for the disposal of redundant polymers.
BDDC is actively pursuing biomaterials and green composites made from plastics that are designed to be composted in municipal and industrial aerobic composting facilities. There are established specifications to determine, if plastics and composites made from plastics will compost satisfactorily, including biodegrading at a rate comparable to known compostable materials. The specification also requires tests assuring that the degradation of these materials will not diminish the value or utility of the compost resulting from the composting process. The new generation of compostable plastic materials to go to market need to establish the specifications and requirements for labeling materials and products, including the packaging made from plastics, as "compostable in municipal and industrial composting facilities." The established facility at BDDC carries out research to evaluate the materials as per the required specifications of compostability and degradability. The outcome of this research helps in designing biomaterials to satisfy proper disposal need of municipal organic waste collection systems.
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Lignin and Its Application with Polymers
300 M ton/yr lignin potential is estimated for North America including the production from chemical pulp mills, and bioethanol industries. Lignin is mainly being used as an undervalued boiler fuel. Only a very minor percentages being used for chemical recovery and other value added applications. Lignins are highly functionalized biopolymer possessing primarily alkyl-aryl ether linkages, aliphatic and aromatic hydroxyl groups which offer potential for the development of renewable polymeric materials/blends. The value addition to the lignin not only improves the economy of the industries but also could serve as a better source for renewable polymeric materials. Research on lignin reinforced thermoplastics and thermosetting polymers composites are under progress. Attempts are being taken to develop low cost, recyclable, fully biodegrdable all green composites from various renewable as well as non-renewable sources that could substitute existing plastics in automotive, building and packaging applications. Promotion of economy through the material application of lignin, a major industrial byproduct, is the objective of the current research.
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Value Added Utilization of Protein Rich Meals for Green Packaging Applications
Biofuel production is associated with various coproducts, which are currently undervalued and underutilized. Protein rich meals are the major coproducts from biodiesel industry and currently being used as cattle feed. However, with the remarkable growth of biodiesel industry a huge volume of protein rich meals are being oversupplied for cattle feed. Diversification in utilization of these co-products creates a value proposition for biofuel industries. Utilization of these meals for green packaging is one of best approach as it not only creates value to these coproducts but also reduces our dependency on petrobased polymers i.e. "two birds, one stone situation".
Our centre utilizes Soymeal, Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) DDGS, Canola meal and Jatropha meal from biodiesel industries for research on green packaging applications. In our approach we directly use these meals instead of obtaining pure protein from them. Reactive blending, compatibiliztaion chemistry and thermoplastic processing are routes used to reach this target. One of the innovativeness of this approach is that we are utilizing crude glycerol in this work.
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