Towards development of a biodegradable polymer for use in single-use surgical gloves

The proposed university-industry research aims to develop a biodegradable polymer with a target application in personal protective equipment (PPE), aligned with the ongoing global research efforts towards Next Generation Plastics (NGPs). The new NGP is expected to fully degrade within 2-5 years when disposed in soil and exposed to a combination of water, UV and thermal-based biodegradation mechanisms. If proven feasible through the proposed lab-scale tests, followed by upscaling by the industry partner, the new product will address Canada’s recommended zero-plastic waste strategy by avoiding the use of non-recyclable plastic products and adapting circular economy approaches in engineering productions.

Faculty Supervisor:

Abbas Sadeghzadeh Milani;Cigdem Eskicioglu

Student:

Ibrahim Alper Basar

Partner:

FEED Engineering

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of British Columbia Okanagan