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ZCP – Z-Chitosan Products Germany
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Application · Plastics & masterbatch

Chitosan-based antimicrobial masterbatch.

ZCP, based in Dresden, supplies Z-Chitosan as a masterbatch for PP, PE, ABS and other polymers, and develops formulations for injection moulding and extrusion together with processors.

Check feasibility Request samples
Falling translucent polymer pellets backlit against a dark background, a white fridge drawer out of focus behind
Application example
Polymer pellets against the light, an injection-moulded part behind
Problem
Microbial colonisation of plastic parts in contact with food or skin
Material
PP · PE · PVC · PET · PS · ABS · PA · PC as listed in the catalogue
Incorporation
Masterbatch for injection moulding, extrusion and blow moulding
Test data
selected test data on request, subject to review and NDA

The problem

Microbes on plastics, pressure on established actives.

Z-Chitosan is built from chitosan and plant extracts, without silver. Whether it can replace a silver-based treatment in your part will only be shown by test data in the specific polymer.

Literature

  1. 6.4%

    In a study of 342 domestic refrigerators, Staphylococcus aureus was found in 6.4% of units and Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli in 1.2% each. [1]

  2. Silver

    Since 1 May 2026, silver has carried the harmonised EU classification as toxic to reproduction, category 2 (H361f), and STOT RE 2. [2]

  3. Triclosan

    In the EU, triclosan is not approved for biocidal products of product-type 1. Treated articles may only contain active substances approved for the relevant product-type; transitional rules apply to substances under review. [3] [4]

Scale Journey

From fridge part to particle.

Pick one of the three steps – the scale bar follows.

Empty, bright refrigerator with a white crisper drawer pulled halfway out beneath glass shelves Macro shot of a finely matt white polypropylene injection-moulded surface in raking light SEM-style visualisation: fractured plastic cross-section with finely dispersed round microparticles
Application example 10 cm

10 cm

Polypropylene crisper drawer

A part in daily contact with food and hands.

What am I looking at?
  1. 10 cm · Polypropylene crisper drawer. A part in daily contact with food and hands.
  2. 1 mm · The surface. This is where microbes meet the material. Only what lies at the surface can come into contact with them.
  3. 10 µm · Z-Chitosan particles dispersed in the polymer matrix. Some sit at the surface.

The images are visualisations, not measurements.

Model illustration

Dosing in principle

Move the masterbatch share. The particles in the part become denser, and so does the share at the surface.

Masterbatch share

Active content in the part: depends on the formulation, set in the project

Illustration of the principle, without figures. Patent US 12,071,490 describes a masterbatch share of 1 to 10 percent in the base material.

Incorporation

How Z-Chitosan gets into the part.

Injection moulding · Extrusion · Blow moulding

  1. 01

    Masterbatch

    Z-Chitosan in a carrier polymer, supplied as pellets.

  2. 02

    Let-down

    the masterbatch is added to the base polymer during processing.

  3. 03

    Forming

    injection moulding, extrusion or blow moulding.

  4. 04

    Result

    particles dispersed throughout the part, some of them at the surface.

Loading model …

Model illustration

Layers

Click a layer or tap it in the scene. Origin and allergy information are on the Origin page.

What am I looking at?
LayerMaterialTypical value wall thicknessFunctionZ-ChitosanTesting
Polymer matrixbase polymer, e.g. PP1–3 mmshape and strengthdispersed throughout the volumeISO 846
ParticlesZ-Chitosan microparticles1–5 µmcarrier of the antimicrobial componentheredispersion in cross-section (microscopy)
Surface zoneoutermost zone of the parttop micrometres (model)contact with microbes, food and skinparticles at the surfaceISO 22196 / JIS Z 2801; for food contact, migration under Regulation (EU) No 10/2011
Injection moulding machine with the mould open, a robot gripper removing a white plastic part
Illustrative image
Polymers listed in the ZCP catalogue · status and temperature window per polymer are clarified in the project
Polymer
PP Polypropylene
PE Polyethylene
PVC Polyvinyl chloride
PET Polyethylene terephthalate
PS Polystyrene
ABS Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
PA Polyamide
PC Polycarbonate

Testing

Testing and classification.

Which tests a product with Z-Chitosan needs depends on the material, the use and the intended claim; we define them together in the project. To protect our intellectual property, selected supporting test data may be made available to potential partners on request, subject to review and a non-disclosure agreement.

View evidence

Regulatory framework

If Z-Chitosan has a biocidal function in the part, the part is a treated article under the Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) No 528/2012; if the property is advertised, labelling under Article 58(3) applies. For food contact, Regulations (EC) No 1935/2004 and (EU) No 10/2011 apply as well. [4] [5]

  • treated article (Art. 58 BPR)
  • food contact Reg. (EC) 1935/2004
  • Reg. (EU) 10/2011

Status of Z-Chitosan under biocides law: clarified for each product type before a project starts

Classification, not legal advice. As of 26 September 2026

Regulatory details Treated articles

For your records

Partner fact sheet

Problem
Microbial colonisation of plastic parts in contact with food or skin; replacing established actives such as silver or triclosan
Materials
PP · PE · PVC · PET · PS · ABS · PA · PC as listed in the catalogue
Incorporation
Masterbatch for injection moulding, extrusion and blow moulding
Test data
selected test data on request, subject to review and NDA
Regulatory framework
Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) No 528/2012, Art. 58; for food contact, Regulations (EC) No 1935/2004 and (EU) No 10/2011
Partnering
Samples and supply · joint formulation development · licence
Status
Partners wanted
Contact person
Hadi Sultani, Managing Director · +49 176 84362604

FAQ

What processors ask.

Your question isn’t here? Ask the assistant or the team.

Which polymers is the Z-Chitosan masterbatch intended for?

The ZCP catalogue lists PP, PE, PVC, PET, PS, ABS, PA and PC. Which of these are available is clarified per polymer in the project. Patent US 12,071,490 also names polymer classes such as polyolefins, polyamides, polycarbonates, thermosets, elastomers, high-temperature thermoplastics and biopolymers. Other plastics, such as TPE or TPU, are assessed on request. What matters is processing temperature, residence time and compatibility with the carrier polymer.

What processing temperature can Z-Chitosan tolerate?

The patent states temperature stability of the final product from −100 °C to 300 °C; the temperature window for your polymer and process is clarified in the project. Chitosan and plant extracts are organic substances, so we review melt temperature, residence time and shear together with you. The feasibility check asks for these values and gives a preliminary assessment, not a commitment.

Is the masterbatch suitable for food contact?

Plastics in contact with food must comply with Regulation (EU) No 10/2011: additives generally have to be on the Union list, and the part must meet migration limits. The Biocidal Products Regulation adds requirements for the antimicrobial function. We will state the position for Z-Chitosan only once it is backed by a documented assessment.

Sources5
  1. Jackson V., Blair I. S., McDowell D. A., Kennedy J., Bolton D. J. (2007): The incidence of significant foodborne pathogens in domestic refrigerators. Food Control 18(4):346–351.
  2. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2564 (22nd adaptation of the CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 to technical progress), entry for silver; applicable from 1 May 2026.
  3. Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/110 of 27 January 2016 not approving triclosan as an existing active substance for use in biocidal products of product-type 1.
  4. Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 (Biocidal Products Regulation), Art. 3, 58 and 94.
  5. Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004; Regulation (EU) No 10/2011; ISO 22196; JIS Z 2801; ISO 846.

Which polymer do you process?

The feasibility check is pre-set for plastics processing and asks for polymer, process and temperature.

Check feasibility Request samples