VURONYX TECHNOLOGIES LLC — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase II: 8.8

Description

In this Phase II SBIR project, Vuronyx Technologies will investigatehigh performance BPA free epoxy coatings for food and beverage cans.Canning of foods and beverages in metal containers is extensively used for food preservation and storage. The protective coating applied on the inside surface of the food/beverage container should be safe for food contact, have excellent adhesion to the substrate, and resist degradation over long periods of time. Currently used coatings for food and beverage cans are based on Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA present in epoxy coatings in cans have been found to leech into food products, and there is a positive correlation between consumption of canned foods and beverages and their presence in human urine and blood.The health hazards of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs), such as BPA, are well-established - including cancer, brain and behavioral changes in fetuses, and female reproductive issues.The BPA-free epoxy coating developed by Vuronyx Technologies is non-estrogenic but will still provide similar or improved barrier performance. The coatings are derived form isosorbide, an inexpensive biobased precursor material made by dehydration and reduction of glucose. Successful commercialization of these new coatings will encourage large-scale synthesis of the biobased epoxy precursors.In Phase II project, Vuronyx Technologies will formulate the coatings and test their barrier properties and mechanical performance in food and beverage cans. Further, the toxicological performance of these new coatings will be conducted both in-vitro and in-vivo, and compared to currently used BPA based epoxy coatings. Based on our Phase I results and published literature, we expect that the new biobased coatings will have non-estrogeic properties, and will have similar barrier and mechanical performance. Positive results from Phase II project will enable brand owners and can coaters to switch to the new biobased BPA-free coatings, and thus reduce the prevalence of BPA in environment and human bodies, especially kids, pregnant women, and low income communities.