Diploma thesis Hanna Obenaus

Development of compostable molded packaging parts from low-protein agricultural residues

Aim

At a time when raw materials are becoming increasingly scarce and awareness of climate change is growing, there is a desire to make the best possible use of any material that is produced. Hay, which is obtained from the landscape management of renaturalized and limited agriculturally usable areas, is often not suitable as animal feed. Due to natural reed growth or the presence of poisonous plants such as ragwort, other utilization strategies must be developed. In this project, the possibility of pressing the hay into packaging trays to be used for packaging agricultural products for the retail trade was investigated. An optimal pulping process using a granulator was identified. The addition of a natural binding agent in the form of starch was also investigated and found to be beneficial. It was proven that stable test panels can be produced as laboratory samples with suitable process parameters and material moisture content. In addition, molded shells could also be successfully produced as laboratory samples.