Final preparations for Q-Milk’s commercial launch
The company behind milk-based fibre Q-Milk is starting a phase of “intensive testing” at its facilities in Germany, as it readies the product for commercial launch.
“We are focused on adjusting the installation to meet the different requirements of our partner companies, enabling them to produce various end products,” said the company.
The production process is based on a ‘zero waste’ concept, with some waste recycled into a newly developed biopolymer, which can be used by the plastics industry, and is powered by renewable electricity with the fibre cleaned with rainwater.
Casein protein appears once the milk turns sour, water is added and the mixture ground into a paste. The pulp is pushed through a spinneret to form the fibre. It uses milk deemed not fit for consumption and therefore classed as waste.
The team collected the award for Bio-based Material of the Year at the recent International Conference on Bio-based Materials in Cologne.
