UPV researcher proposes strategies for integrating bioplastics into traditional Dominican manufacturing
The Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) and the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) transfer knowledge and make agreements with companies to carry out research focused on bioplastics issues.
SANTO DOMINGO.- Harrison de la Rosa Ramírez, researcher and project leader of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), presented teachers and researchers from the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), as well as invited companies, the replacement of conventional plastics with biobased plastics, that is, polymers produced wholly or partially from biomass—such as plants or byproducts considered agro-industrial waste—instead of fossil fuels.
During the meeting held in the Eduardo Latorre (EL) building, which was attended by representatives of the country's plastics producing companies, De La Rosa shared the application of these products to promote the large-scale development of bioplastics, within the framework of collaboration between the UPV and INTEC, in which both institutions are committed to transferring knowledge for the development of research on environmental issues.
De La Rosa stated that "One of the main discoveries is the availability of diverse materials and the possibility of modifying their properties," since, he stated, there is a growing potential for biomaterials in the country and abundant agricultural and agroindustrial waste, such as cassava, sugarcane, banana, coconut, and rice, which could be transformed into raw materials for the production of biopolymers.
Although bioplastics barely represent the 0.7% of global plastics production (2023)De La Rosa explained that strategic collaboration agreements are currently being established focused on research and large-scale production of bioplastics, "with the goal of enabling companies to play an important role in bioplastic production."
Among the strategies for integrating bioplastics into traditional manufacturing, De La Rosa discussed the importance of adapting industrial processes, advancing standardization, and fostering partnerships between plastics producers and processors to ensure a stable supply of biomaterials.
In this regard, he emphasized the need for support from academic and research institutions to evaluate their properties (strength, flexibility, degradability), tasks carried out at INTEC's Materials Testing Laboratory and Reactors and Bioreactors Laboratory.
The collaboration between the UPV and INTEC arises from the interest in promoting the eco-efficient use of materials, collaborative ties aimed at knowledge transfer and student exchanges between the two universities.
The Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) is positioned among the 500 best universities in the world according to the Shanghai ranking (Academic Ranking of World Universities -ARWU)- and among the first 400 according to the QS World University Rankings.
About the Bioplastics and Biomaterials Innovation Unit (UIBB)
La Bioplastics and Biomaterials Innovation Unit (UIBB), created within the framework of the project Circular Caribbean and coordinated by the INTEC Environmental Management Center (CEGA), is an applied research group that seeks to connect academia and industry. Its work focuses on providing scientific and technical services, specialized consulting, training courses, and the development of research projects. The unit's main strategic focus is the valorization of agro-industrial waste, applying sustainability indicators.