Product category:
Gas analysis equipment
News Release from: Systech Instruments | Subject: Systech 8001 oxygen permeation analyser
Edited by the Laboratorytalk Editorial
Team on 23 May 2007
Testing a new biodegradable packaging
film
A Systech 8001 oxygen permeation analyser is being used to test Xylophane, a novel, biodegradable packaging film being developed in Sweden
The new, environmentally friendly oxygen barrier film, being developed by Xylophane, makes use of by-products of corn, straw, and wood processing that are usually discarded Processing turns the by-products into xylan, a biopolymer, which is used to produce the Xylophane packaging film with oxygen barrier properties similar to currently used aluminium foil and plastic film from non-renewable sources
This article was originally published on Laboratorytalk on 31 Jul 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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Fast and accurate film permeation analysis
Molecules of oxygen, diffusing through the film, are carried by nitrogen to a precision sensor that directly measures oxygen content for display without complex extrapolation
Xylophane is also an excellent barrier to grease and aroma.
The process of turning waste hemicellulose into a packaging film was first discovered during a research project at Chalmers University of Technology in Goteborg, Sweden and is now being commercially developed by Xylophane.
This company, a spin-off from the University formed by Maria Grondahl, Lisa Eriksson, and Paul Gatenholm, aims to create a commercially viable replacement for barrier materials made from non-renewable sources.
As part of the commercialisation process, the Systech 8001 oxygen permeation analyser is used to produce data that allows the performance of Xylophane to be compared directly with that of conventional oxygen barrier films used in the food packaging industry.
Working with a number of packaging material companies, Xylophane is confident that the new material will soon prove to be more economical but just as effective as currently used, non-biodegradable materials.
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