Additives for producing
Degradable Plastic
The most useful and economic of the new
technologies that produce degradable plastic is
a process of OXO-degradation. This technology
is based on a very small amount of a prodegradant
additive being introduced into the
conventional manufacturing process, thereby
changing the behaviour of plastic.
As per ET Polymers dated June-
July 2005, the current global
demand of biodegradable
plastics is 46,000 tonnes and is expected
to reach 96,000 tonnes in 2006-
07.
Plastic is a familiar component
of modern living and is used in all
sorts of packaging, household and
commercial applications. Whilst the
benefits of low cost, light weight,
strength, imperviousness to gas
and water, transparency, seal abil-ity, and printability are highly regarded.
The very strength and durability,
which makes plastic such a
useful and economic material, becomes
a major problem when disposal
is required.
Oxo-Biodegradable1
Plastic
The most useful and economic way
of new technologies that produce
degradable plastic is a process of
OXO-degradation. This technology
is based on a very small amount of a
pro-degradant additive being introduced
into the conventional manufacturing
process, thereby changing
the behavior of plastic. The degradation
of the plastic starts immediately
after manufacture and will accelerate
when exposed to heat, light
or stress.
Bacteria and fungi will consume it
after the additive has reduced the
molecular structure to a level2 that
permits living micro-organism’s access
to the carbon and hydrogen. It can
therefore be properly described as
“biodegradable”. The material has
then ceased to be a plastic and has
become a food source. This process
continues until the material has biodegraded
to nothing more than CO2,
water and humus. It does not leave
fragments of petro-polymers in the
soil.
The oxo-biodegradable film has
been certified3 as safe for longterm
contact with any food type at
temperatures up to 40°C. It is also
ideal for frozen food packaging, as
it can be kept for extended periods
at low temperature, and will then
quickly degrade when it becomes
a waste product at normal temperatures.
Unlike PVC, the polymers from
which oxo-biodegradable plastics are
made do not contain organo-chlorine.
Nor do oxo-biodegradable polymers
emit either methane nor nitrous oxide
under aerobic or anaerobic conditions.
Policymakers always need to
consider what happens to waste plastic
products, which escape the collection
net and end up as litter. It is
impossible for industry and government
to ensure that they are all collected,
and even if collected to ensure
that they are all recycled or incinerated.
They should all therefore
be made from oxo-biodegradable
plastic, except for very long-life
items. If collected, they can be recycled,
composted, or incinerated.
And, if not collected they will degrade
and disappear, leaving no
harmful residues.
Products can be made in oxo-biodegradable
plastic using the same
machinery as currently used for conventional
plastic. There is therefore no
need to re-equip factories or re-train
the workforce
....contd.
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