Polymer Institute
Topic
Application of natural wasted oils and extracts for food packaging.
PhD. program
Technology of Polymer Materials.
Year of admission
2024
Name of the supervisor
Ing. Alena Opálková Šišková, PhD.
Contact:
Receiving school
Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology STU
Annotation
Packaging is a vital component of a food product, as it aims to protect the product itself from external influences during transport or storage, to ensure the freshness of the food for as long as possible, and at the same time serves to attract and increase the customer's interest. The properties of packaging are constantly being improved and are moving towards so-called active packaging. The latest packaging, resealable, sustainable, ecological, customized, and made of different materials (PET, PP, PS, paper, MaterBi, etc.) meets the technical requirements. However, our goal is to improve the biotechnological parameters so that the devastating/rotting processes of food, especially dairy products and vegetables, are inhibited. Such packaging material is supposed to extend life and ensure the freshness of food before consumption, thus reducing food losses and waste. Packaging will be prepared and studied based on non-woven fabrics prepared by electrospinning and blowing-spinning, while the ability to inhibit pathogens will be ensured by oils from pits (e.g.: plums, apricots) and seeds (e.g.: strawberry, blackcurrant) obtained from waste from the food industry and their pressing or extracts from invasive plants such as Canadian goldenrod. It is expected that the PhD student will acquire knowledge and skills in the preparation of materials using techniques such as electrospinning and blowing-spinning, in the characterization of materials he will use the methods of microscopy (SEM, TEM, OM), thermal analysis (TGA, DSC), spectrometric (SEM-EDX, FTIR) and mechanical methods (tensile tests, DMA), or X-ray diffraction (XRD). Part of the work will be the testing of manufactured materials and, ultimately, the study of their degradation after their use.
PhD students are expected to have general knowledge in the field of polymer chemistry, material engineering, and characterization methods, good knowledge of the English language, the ability to work in an international team, flexibility, independence, and willingness to travel to participate in international conferences and short-term or long-term internships.
The theme will be solved in cooperation with the company Biotatry H&B, s.r.o. (Vychodná, SK), which is a potential customer of research results based on the contract on research and development cooperation and with partners from other Slovak and foreign institutions. The work will be supported by basic research projects and projects of international scientific and technical cooperation.
PhD students are expected to have general knowledge in the field of polymer chemistry, material engineering, and characterization methods, good knowledge of the English language, the ability to work in an international team, flexibility, independence, and willingness to travel to participate in international conferences and short-term or long-term internships.
The theme will be solved in cooperation with the company Biotatry H&B, s.r.o. (Vychodná, SK), which is a potential customer of research results based on the contract on research and development cooperation and with partners from other Slovak and foreign institutions. The work will be supported by basic research projects and projects of international scientific and technical cooperation.