Biodegradable plastics market was estimated at $2 billion in 2015, and projected to reach $3.4 billion in 2020, growing at about 11% per year. One of the targeted raw materials to be used for bioplastics manufacturing are proteins, natural polymers formed from amino acids linked by peptide bonds in long chains. Protein-based films are currently considered as a great alternative in food packaging industries. To be considered for food packaging applications, protein-based films should provide balance of elasticity and strength and have very low permeability. Soy protein possesses promising physico-chemical properties for film formation, however, it’s high sensitivity to humidity and brittleness need to be overcome.
Main goal of this project is to demonstrate feasibility of using soy derivatives, including soy protein and soybean oil-based vinyl monomer (SBM, developed at NDSU) in making (bio)plastic films which can be applied for food packaging.
To improve permeability and mechanical performance of soy protein, it will be mixed at various ratios with SBM-based latexes (developed at NDSU) to formulate and evaluate films prepared thereof and their performance in terms of feasibility to be applied as bioplastics
Specific aims we will address during proposal include synthesis of SBM-based latexes, incorporation of latexes into soy protein matrixes at various ratios, film formation from the optimized combination of protein and latex) and films characterization to demonstrate their feasibility as bioplastics.
Identifying industrial partners to help with evaluating performance of the soy-based film best candidates and show how well-suited new material is for food packaging is targeted.

Industry of food packaging materials is being expanded significantly over the past few decades to maintain food quality, improve shelf-life of food products and provide safe environment for food storage and transportation. The existing problems are often linked to applying synthetic food packing materials i.e. its toxicity and low biodegradability, thus, motivated research effort on utilizing natural (renewable) resources for food packaging production in order to facilitate the environmental and health friendliness of the resulted new materials.
Main goal of this project is to demonstrate feasibility of using soy derivatives, including soy protein and soybean oil-based vinyl monomer (SBM, developed at NDSU, U.S. Patent, 10,315,95, June,11th 2019) in making (bio)plastic films which can be applied for food packaging.
Soy protein possesses promising physico-chemical properties for film formation, however, it’s high sensitivity to humidity and brittleness need to be overcome. For this purpose, various ratios of soy protein will be mixed with SBM-based latexes (developed at NDSU U.S. Patent Application, 16/395,755, August,15th 2019) to formulate plastic films thereof and evaluate their performance in terms of feasibility to be applied as bioplastics.
To this end, specific aims we will address during this proposal include synthesis of SBM-based latexes, incorporation of latexes into soy protein matrixes at various ratios, film formation from the optimized combination of protein and latex, and films characterization. Identifying industrial partners to evaluate performance of the soy-based films best candidates to show how well-suited the new material for food packaging is targeted as well.

1. Process development for preparation of bioplastic films from soy proteins and soybean oilbased latexes.
2. Characterization and testing of the developed soy-based films to determine their feasibility as bioplastics for food packaging applications.
Longer term goal is to provide soy-based films materials and test them at industrial partner facilities (will be identified during this project) to evaluate perspectives of this new product commercialization.

Updated November 23, 2020:
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Updated June 30, 2021:

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Research conducted
The industry of food packaging materials has been expanding significantly over the past few decades to provide a progress in maintaining the food quality, improving the shelf-life of the food products and providing the safe environment for food storage and transportation. The existed problems linked with using synthetic food packing materials have moved the research to utilize natural resources for food packaging materials production.
Some plant-based materials can be an attractive option for bioplastic formation as they demonstrate inherent properties which are desirable in plastic film formation, such as flexibility and water barrier performance.
In this work, we demonstrate feasibility of using soy derivatives, including soy protein and soybean oil in synthesizing bioplastic films which can be applied for food packaging.

Why the research is important to ND soybean farmers
The proposed using soybean protein and soybean oil for making new bioplastics has the ability to add more value to the crop, thereby make it more profitable for farmers. Newly developed materials can diversify soy-based products with increased demand for soybean oil and soy protein in manufacturing of bioplastics.
The market will receive soy-based food packaging materials. This will also help the state of North Dakota economy to involve investors and other soy processing industries.

Final findings of the research
We show that bioplastic films from soy derivatives (soy protein and soybean oil) are not only feasible, but have advanced mechanical and barrier properties, as well as an enhanced performance. These materials can be attractive alternatives to traditional plastics. Besides, the compatibility of multiple soybean derived materials alongside natural film forming additives was demonstrated.

Benefits/Recommendations to North Dakota soybean farmers and industry
This work benefits the North Dakota soybean farmers and industry by establishing additional uses for multiple derivatives of the soybean. Current study focuses on the use in food packaging applications, however, there is evidence that these advances may be turned to agricultural applications as well, thus benefitting the farmers and industry even further by providing a biobased and literally “home-grown” option for agricultural products such as mulch and plant clips.

This proposal aims to provide the feasibility of using crops produced in the state of North Dakota for high value and high profit polymer materials for coatings and paints. Using soybean oil and soy protein for making new materials has the ability to add more value to the crop, thereby make it more profitable for farmers. Thus, ability to produce soy-based bioplastics from soy derivatives from crop grown in state of North Dakota certainly strengthens the developed technology. Obtained results are expected to benefit North Dakota soybean farmers because the findings will diversify soy-based products with increased demand for soy protein and soybean oil. The market will get soy-based films for food packaging applications. It will also help the state of North Dakota economy to involve investors and other soy processing industries.