A multitude of products

At BE-UP Biotechnology Inc., the quality of our biopolymer is our mission. Whatever you need, we are committed to meet your expectations. Contact us today to start working together!
The characteristics of PHA allow us to make a variety of products in most categories of plastics derived from petrochemicals.

MANY POSSIBLE FORMS

Our biopolymers can be packaged in LATEX (aqueous solution), or in GEL POWDER, and can be extruded in PELLETS using conventional equipment.
We also developed a patented process for adjusting the molecular weight of some of our resins, allowing our products increased versatility!

DEFINITION

PHAs are polyesters, ie long chains of molecules linked together by a chemical function formulated by R-CO-O-R. They are naturally produced by certain bacteria in the form of intracellular microgranules. PHAs are stored in response to stress and serve as energy stores for bacteria. Of the 300 PHA-producing bacteria identified, there are at least 80 different monomers produced. The type of monomer produced depends on the bacterial species and substrate, which it feeds. These may contain 3 to 14 carbons and have saturated or unsaturated radicals, branched or unbranched, aliphatic or aromatic. Therefore, there are polymers which, according to their composition in monomers, will have varied mechanical and physicochemical properties (rigidity, melting point, crystallinity, etc.).

CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR PHA

BIODEGRADABLE AND COMPOSTABLE

The biodegradability of a substance is defined as its ability to be broken down entirely into carbon dioxide, water and organic matter (biomass) by microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa). Compostability, in turn, corresponds to the biodegradation of a substance that must be done at the same rate as the other organic residues (vegetable peels, dead leaves, etc.) in a place provided for this purpose (industrial or domestic compost). Most microorganisms have all the tools necessary to fractionate PHA into assimilable molecules. Indeed, these organisms secrete enzymes, a kind of molecular chisel that will cut the polymer at the molecular link. The monomers thus generated will be transformed by microorganisms into energy, carbon dioxide, water and organic matter. PHAs biodegrade only where these microorganisms are present - in soil, aquatic environments, landfills and compost. It is important to note that PHAs are perfectly stable and durable outside these conditions. Unlike other biopolymers, PHAs are not altered by light or oxygen or moisture. Articles made of PHA can be kept for several years without losing their integrity.

BIOCOMPATIBLES

Our PHAs are also known to be biocompatible, that is, they can be introduced into the human body without the phenomenon of rejection. Even short chains of PHB are naturally found in human plasma.

NON-TOXIC AND BIORESORBABLE

Non-toxic and bioabsorbable, our PHAs become one of the materials of choice for the development of a new generation of biomedical products.

UNIQUE PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Many physico-chemical characteristics of our PHA make them first-class biopolymers. Their high melting temperature allows them to be used in applications inaccessible to other bioplastics. Their ability to present a barrier to different gases, including oxygen, is superior to most conventional polymers, raising them as ideal candidates for food packaging applications.

RESISTANT

In addition, our PHA are resistant to several chemicals, have different processing possibilities (extrusion, thermoforming, etc. often with the same equipment as conventional plastics), have a high molecular weight, are resistant to moisture, can be colored, are printable, and more.

POSSIBILITY TO PRODUCE MIXTURES

Our PHA also offers the possibility of being mixed with other biopolymers in various proportions to give new products specific characteristics tailored to the specific needs of customers. Other PHA biopolymers are under development. 100% PHA co-polymers can be developed.