演讲分享⑧ | CO₂变塑料,能否破解生物降解材料成本困局?

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a breakthrough in biodegradable materials using CO₂ as a raw material, potentially reducing costs and improving performance compared to traditional plastics [2][3][6]. Group 1: Market Potential and Cost Structure - The biodegradable materials market is expected to exceed 48 billion yuan by 2025, but current prices are 1.5 to 3 times higher than traditional plastics [2][5]. - The production cost of the developed aliphatic polycarbonate (PPC) material is estimated to be below 8,000 yuan/ton, comparable to petroleum-based polyethylene at approximately 7,400 yuan/ton [6][18]. - The cost structure includes raw material costs of approximately 6,224 yuan, with CO₂ sourced from industrial waste at 200-400 yuan/ton, and other costs adding up to around 1,600 yuan [18][19][20]. Group 2: Innovative Approach to Low-Carbon Polymers - The research proposes a novel approach to redefine low-carbon polymers by replacing some carbon atoms with oxygen, aiming for a carbon-oxygen ratio of 4:3 in the polymer structure [7][14]. - This method allows CO₂ to be directly involved in the polymerization process, creating a closed carbon cycle by utilizing waste CO₂ instead of sequestering it [14][15]. Group 3: Performance Advantages of PPC - PPC exhibits superior barrier properties, with oxygen barrier performance being six times better than PLA and 24 times better than PBAT, making it suitable for high-demand applications like food packaging [31][32]. - The material has a high elongation at break of 400-650%, excellent water resistance, and a controlled degradation rate, addressing limitations of existing biodegradable materials [34][39][42]. Group 4: Pathway to Industrialization - The team is following a three-step pathway for industrialization: first, validating the technology at a pilot scale of 200 tons/year; second, scaling up to a 10,000-ton production line; and finally, achieving large-scale production of millions of tons [46][48][50]. - Achieving a production scale of 1 million tons per year could sequester 420,000 tons of CO₂, equivalent to planting 230 million trees [50]. Group 5: Policy and Market Support - The development aligns with China's dual carbon strategy and is supported by policies encouraging the use of biodegradable materials in packaging [51][54]. - The demand for biodegradable materials is rapidly increasing, with potential market space of 4.8 billion yuan if PPC captures 10% of the market [56][58].