Czech technology may help used cooking oil problem

Czech Ambassador to China H.E. Mr. Libor Secka delivers a speech stressing the huge potential for cooperation in the field of biotechnology between the Czech Republic and China, at the opening ceremony for the Czech company Nafigate China in Beijing on November 20, 2012. [Photo by Huang Shuo / chinadaily.com.cn]

Ladislav Mares, CEO of Nafigate Corporation, addresses the audience at the opening ceremony for Nafigate China in Beijing on November 20, 2012. [Photo by Huang Shuo / chinadaily.com.cn]

The opening ceremony for the Czech company Nafigate China is held in Beijing on November 20, 2012. Many experts, scholars and peers in biotechnology attended the ceremony and exchanged ideas. [Photo by Huang Shuo / chinadaily.com.cn]

Nafigate Corp, a Czech company active in technology transfer and hi-tech product commercialization, brings a revolutionary biotechnology developed by VUT (Brno University of Technology) to the Chinese market. The technology can transform used cooking oil into plastic packaging that is not harmful to the environment.

The source material for the patented manufacturing technology of a natural polymer called PHA (polyhydroxyalcanoates) is used cooking oil. This technology has been tested and is now ready for commercialization. The polymer is a base material for the manufacture of bioplastic products. Packaging made from these natural polymers can be used, for example, for storing fresh food or drinking cups and self-degrades after several months. The technology was developed by a team led by Associate Professor Ivana Marova from the Materials Research Center of the Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology.

PHA natural polymers and bioplastics made of these have great market potential. "Biotechnologies have a great future. This one is exceptional because it uses waste material that is excessive in amount and its storage and disposal has become a major problem. We can make a very useful product from this waste material – a bioplastic that is environmentally friendly," said Ladislav Mares, CEO of Nafigate Corp, who was in Beijing on Nov 20, 2012.

The market for synthetic plastics in China is on a notably lower scale than in the US or EU, but it is expected to grow in the near future, leading to problems with plastic waste disposal and recycling. In the case of bioplastics, this solution is easier because the plastics self-deteriorate.

Nafigate Corp brings together the most notable experts in the field of nanofibers and builds a Global Center of Excellence whose aim is to transfer high-tech products and innovation technologies. "Because we know that the Chinese government supports the development and implementation of innovative products and technologies, we have decided to establish a branch directly in China and link the Chinese research and development in nanofibers with the global elite. The management team for China has been active for some time now. We make use of our experience from the successful commercialization of the Nanospider technology," Mares said.

Apart from biotechnologies, Nafigate Corp brings to the Chinese market projects focusing on the development of a new, energy-saving generation of nanofiber membranes for waste water treatment technology, the textile industry or batteries. "New technologies enable the use of this potential and bring solutions to major problems in the development of humankind," said Professor Seeram Ramakrishna from the National University of Singapore, one of the leading experts in the field of nanofibers.

"We consider entrance of Nafigate to the Chinese market an important moment in the development of common cooperation in perspective and innovative technologies, which is a field that the Chinese government supports. This area belongs to sectors mentioned in the 12th Five-Year Plan for the support of cooperation between the People's Republic of China and countries in Central and Eastern Europe that was declared by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao this April. Therefore, we believe that we will be able to find common ground and support on both sides in order to develop and implement not only the above mentioned technologies but also other Nafigate projects," said Petr Vavra, head of the Economic Section at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in China.

Contact the reporter at larryhuangshuo@163.com