Chemical Week - 03/31/04 : Procter & Gamble (P&G) Chemicals and Kaneka(Osaka) says they have finalized a joint agreement to commercialize NodaxH, a biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate plastic for use in fiber,nonwoven, and packaging applications (CW, June 25, 2003, p. 26). Kanekaholds composition of matter and processing patents for the material, poly(3-hydroyxbutyrate.co.3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH). P&G holds patentscovering processing and applications.

P&G and Kaneka say they will combine resources to complete the developmentwork, including a cost-effective fermentation production process, andimprove processing of the PHBH polymer. Subject to successful completionof development milestones, the companies will build a30,000-m.t./year-50,000-m.t./year commercial plant, says Norma McDonald,associate director/P&G Chemicals and commercialization manager/Nodax. Thecompanies are considering locations in China, Germany, Italy, Malaysia,the Netherlands, Taiwan, and the U.K., McDonald says.

Kaneka will work with potential end customers in Asia, and P&G with thosein Europe and the Americas. P&G is targeting fiber and nonwovenapplications, where it says PHBH could compete with polypropylene. Targetmarkets include flushable consumer products and medical garments.

PHBH is made by fermentation of sugars from com and sugar beet, and palmoil-based fatty acids, and can be readily converted into items such ascoated paper, films, fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and molded articles, thecompany says. P&G and Kaneka researchers say PHBH is also compatible withother biodegradable polymers, including polylactic acid and thermoplasticstarch, to produce composites.