Development of Non-Toxic BPA-Free Phytochemical Resins for Coating & Packaging Applications

A burgeoning need exists for less toxic plastic packaging resins in society today. Current concerns about chronic human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) epoxy resins commonly employed as corrosion resistant liners within canned food container interiors has driven the need to explore alternative, less toxic polymer barrier can liner materials. This effort will focus upon evaluating novel alternative liner resins which are not based upon BPA but are instead sourced from waste guayule biomass. Guayule is a drought resistant shrub which is indigenous to the southwestern desert and has been touted as a natural, non-petrochemical based source for rubber. After extracting rubber from the guayule, the resultant biomass contains a host of other valuable chemical intermediates suitable for specialty niche market products. For example, the polyphenols present within waste guayule biomass are attractive candidate BPA replacement materials and hence will be investigated accordingly within this SBIR effort as new, less toxic, bio-derived resin precursor chemicals. In this sense, this effort will offer benefits to scientific, social and economic circles. The scientific community will find the results from this study to be of interest given that new resins and plastic coatings will be produced from guayule polyphenols while society will benefit from the development of less toxic, BPA free barrier packaging materials. Finally, the economy will benefit from this program given that additional, high value added products will be extracted from guayule rubber manufacturing waste biomass. Production of additional products from guayule will bolster the economic competitiveness of the guayule bio-rubber derived manufacturing process and reduce domestic dependence upon conventional petrochemical sourced rubber precursors.