LG Electronics' Antibacterial Functional Material 'Purotec' Applied to Smart Aquaculture Farms

MOU Signed with Eco Aqua Farm, an Atlantic Salmon Farming Company,
for "Technological Cooperation and Purotec Application"
Fostering B2B New Business... "Will Expand Our Scope"

LG Electronics is expanding the application of its antibacterial functional material 'Purotec,' which it is developing as a new business in business-to-business (B2B) transactions, into the food processing industry.

LG Electronics is expanding the application of its antibacterial functional material "Purotec," which it is fostering as a B2B new business, to the food processing industry. A researcher developing the functional material. Photo by LG Electronics

On the 16th, LG Electronics announced that on the 13th, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the application of Purotec to enhance hygiene in land-based aquaculture plant manufacturing with smart aquaculture company Eco Aqua Farm at LG Electronics' Gasan R&D Campus in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul. The signing ceremony was attended by Kim Young-seok, Head of LG Electronics HS Functional Materials Business Division, and Jin Hyo-sang, CEO of Eco Aqua Farm, among others.

LG Electronics is nurturing Purotec as a B2B new business based on its expertise in researching glass powder, a new material, and applying it to home appliances. Since 2006, it has steadily filed patents related to glass powder and currently holds 420 patents. It has also developed various products that can apply functions such as antibacterial and antifungal effects to different materials. There is an annual production facility with a capacity of 4,500 tons at the Smart Park in Changwon, Gyeongnam.

Eco Aqua Farm is a subsidiary of GS Engineering & Construction. It cultivates Atlantic salmon on land on a large scale. Using a closed-loop recirculating filtration system, it reuses up to 99% of the water needed for aquaculture, making it safe from marine pollution such as microplastics and heavy metals.

Through this agreement, LG Electronics and Eco Aqua Farm plan to promote technological cooperation to maintain food safety during the processing stages. They intend to explore applying Purotec in the transportation, handling, and packaging processes of mature salmon.

Purotec, when added to materials such as plastic, paint, and rubber, provides antibacterial and antifungal effects that prevent odors, contamination, and discoloration caused by microorganisms. Therefore, applying Purotec to floors or walls in processing rooms can inhibit the growth of bacteria and mold, maintaining a hygienic environment. Additionally, using Purotec in refrigerators, storage facilities, packaging materials, processing equipment, and tools is expected to help maintain the freshness of salmon by suppressing bacterial growth.

The diameter of Purotec particles is about 4μm (micrometers), which is one-tenth the size of flour particles, and they undergo a process that enhances antibacterial and antifungal performance. It is economical because a small amount can deliver high antibacterial performance, and it is highly versatile as it can be mixed with other materials such as plastic and textiles. The global market size is approximately 18 trillion KRW as of this year, with a wide range of applications including packaging, medical, and construction materials, indicating significant growth potential.

In particular, LG Electronics is expanding customer touchpoints with various products across a wide range of areas from homes to vehicles and commercial spaces. Based on the product development capabilities and data accumulated from diverse customer touchpoints, Purotec also has the advantage of being designed and produced optimized for different usage environments. Last year, Purotec received Food Contact Substance (FCS) approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recognizing its safety for use in food packaging materials.

Baek Seung-tae, Vice President and Head of LG Electronics Kitchen Solutions Division, said, "Through the MOU, we will secure a technology reference for applying FDA-approved Purotec in smart aquaculture and the food distribution industry and expand the application areas of functional materials as a B2B new business."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.