Scientists to develop material to extend shelf life of beer in plastic bottles

Scientists at Crann, the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)-funded nanoscience institute based at Trinity College Dublin, have partnered with brewing company, SABMiller, on a project to increase the shelf life of bottled beer in plastic bottles.

Professor Jonathan Coleman and his team at Crann are using nanoscience research methods to develop a new material that will prolong the shelf life of beer in plastic bottles. Current plastic bottles have a relatively short shelf life, as both oxygen and carbon dioxide can permeate the plastic and diminish the flavour.

The new material, when added to plastic bottles, will reportedly make them extremely impervious, meaning that oxygen cannot enter and that the carbon dioxide cannot escape, thus preserving the taste and 'fizz'.

The team will exfoliate nano-sheets of boron nitride, each with a thickness of approximately 50,000 times thinner than one human hair. These nano-sheets will be mixed with plastic, which will result in a material that is extremely impervious to gas molecules. The molecules will be unable to diffuse through the material and shelf life will be increased.

As well as increasing the shelf life of the beer itself, less material is required in production, reducing cost and environmental impact.

Dr. Diarmuid O'Brien, Executive Director, Crann, said: "This partnership with SABMiller highlights the applicability of nanoscience and its relevance to everyday products.

“We are delighted to partner on this exciting project and look forward to its results."