Radiation-Used 'Livestock Manure → Bio-Plastic' to Be Marketed

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute Signs Technology Transfer Contract with Private Company
Combining Livestock Manure and Plastic Using Radiation
Fully Biodegradable with 30% Improvement in Strength and Elasticity

Biomass plastic (right) made by mixing livestock manure and plastic, then irradiating it with radiation

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Biodegradable bio-plastic made from livestock manure using radiation is expected to be commercially available soon.

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute's Advanced Radiation Research Center announced on the 28th that it has signed a technology transfer agreement with a private company for the "Radiation-based Eco-friendly Livestock Manure Compost Composite Manufacturing Technology," receiving a fixed technology fee of 30 million KRW and a running royalty of 2.5% of sales.

Unlike existing manufacturing technologies that use expensive chemical additives to bind raw materials, the institute developed a biomass plastic manufacturing technology that binds raw materials through radiation irradiation. Until now, imported wood powder has mainly been used as raw material, but this technology is revolutionary as it can recycle livestock manure compost discarded domestically.

Because livestock manure compost powder is mixed and bonded into the plastic, it is completely decomposed by soil microorganisms, making it environmentally friendly. Experiments confirmed that its strength and elasticity improved by more than 30% compared to existing biomass plastics.

Senior Researcher Jeong Seong-rin stated, "We plan to advance the technology to be applicable in various fields, from construction materials to automotive interior and exterior parts, packaging materials, and daily necessities," adding, "Biomass plastics emit less than half the carbon dioxide during manufacturing compared to conventional petroleum-based plastics, and are expected to contribute to the government's 'low-carbon green growth and carbon neutrality' initiatives."