BIOtech Products BIOchem Additive

Beijing, China 2009

Landfill Biodegradability of Landfill Biodegradability of PlasticsPlastics

Landfill Biodegradability of Landfill Biodegradability of PlasticsPlastics

Goal - To develop additive systems that will Goal - To develop additive systems that will permit common, cost effective, inherently non-permit common, cost effective, inherently non-

biodegradable plastics to biodegrade in a biodegradable plastics to biodegrade in a landfill to useful products without loss of landfill to useful products without loss of resistance to heat or weather in ordinaryresistance to heat or weather in ordinary

service. To biodegrade only in a landfill.service. To biodegrade only in a landfill.

Landfill EnvironmentLandfill EnvironmentLandfill EnvironmentLandfill Environment

Dark, 30-40ºC, limited oxygen, bad conditions Dark, 30-40ºC, limited oxygen, bad conditions for usual degradation paths.for usual degradation paths.

Variable moisture content. At 35-45% Variable moisture content. At 35-45% moisture, many plastics can be induced to moisture, many plastics can be induced to

biodegrade. At very low levels (15-20%) found biodegrade. At very low levels (15-20%) found in poorly managed landfills, not even food in poorly managed landfills, not even food

waste will biodegrade.waste will biodegrade.

Oxidative Degradation Oxidative Degradation (not in a landfill)(not in a landfill)

In damp loose soil inherently biodegradable In damp loose soil inherently biodegradable plastics such as PLA, polyvinyl alcohol or plastics such as PLA, polyvinyl alcohol or

polyacrylic acid, orpolyacrylic acid, or

Polyolefin/starch compositions or modified Polyolefin/starch compositions or modified with Ferric or Manganese stearate will with Ferric or Manganese stearate will

degrade.degrade.

Outdoor service life and water resistance are Outdoor service life and water resistance are extremely limitedextremely limited

ASTM D 5526 LandfillASTM D 5526 LandfillASTM D 5526 LandfillASTM D 5526 Landfill

90% Processed sterile sewage waste of 35-65% 90% Processed sterile sewage waste of 35-65% water contentwater content

10% actively fermenting compost 10% actively fermenting compost

This method simulates landfills in which the gas This method simulates landfills in which the gas generated is recovered. In well managed generated is recovered. In well managed

landfills, there is periodic addition of water and landfills, there is periodic addition of water and sewage waste.sewage waste.

What’s suitable food?What’s suitable food?What’s suitable food?What’s suitable food?

Water is vitalWater is vital

Sources of carbon and nitrogenSources of carbon and nitrogen

Necessary trace elements Necessary trace elements

Absence of active biocides – Zinc, Absence of active biocides – Zinc, cadmium and mercury and lead cadmium and mercury and lead

compoundscompounds

Control degradation so that the Control degradation so that the polymer molecules break into pieces polymer molecules break into pieces during aging instead of resinifying to during aging instead of resinifying to higher MWhigher MW

PVC can do both but in the natural PVC can do both but in the natural course of events tends to resinify course of events tends to resinify rather than break apartrather than break apart

How do we get low MW?How do we get low MW?

Standard Plastisol SheetStandard Plastisol Sheet

Biodegradable PlastisolBiodegradable Plastisol with with BIOchemBIOchem®® Additives Additives

What is readily consumed in the What is readily consumed in the landfill?landfill?

(at least, under some conditions)(at least, under some conditions)

What is readily consumed in the What is readily consumed in the landfill?landfill?

(at least, under some conditions)(at least, under some conditions)

Process oil, low wax, plasticizers from Process oil, low wax, plasticizers from natural products (Not phthalates), natural products (Not phthalates),

stearic acid, cellulose, if the moisture stearic acid, cellulose, if the moisture content is high. (If not, paper may content is high. (If not, paper may

persist indefinitely.)persist indefinitely.)

Decomposition of Cellulose Decomposition of Cellulose Requires High MoistureRequires High Moisture

Decomposition of Cellulose Decomposition of Cellulose Requires High MoistureRequires High Moisture

Landfill Degradation Develops Landfill Degradation Develops Useful Fuel in BiogasUseful Fuel in Biogas

Landfill Degradation Develops Landfill Degradation Develops Useful Fuel in BiogasUseful Fuel in Biogas

Is PVC immortal in the landfill?Is PVC immortal in the landfill?Is PVC immortal in the landfill?Is PVC immortal in the landfill?

2003 report that after 32 years in a 2003 report that after 32 years in a landfill, plasticized PVC sheet showed landfill, plasticized PVC sheet showed

only minor holes where fungi had only minor holes where fungi had consumed plasticizer or other consumed plasticizer or other

additives.additives.

1994 report that addition of 8% starch 1994 report that addition of 8% starch resulted in microbes eating only the resulted in microbes eating only the

starchstarch

Landfill Decomposition of Vinyl Landfill Decomposition of Vinyl PlasticsPlastics

Landfill Decomposition of Vinyl Landfill Decomposition of Vinyl PlasticsPlastics

Additives leading to landfill biodegradation of Additives leading to landfill biodegradation of PVC and related materials under anaerobic PVC and related materials under anaerobic

conditions are described in US Patent conditions are described in US Patent 7,390,841, now also WO 2008/140552.7,390,841, now also WO 2008/140552.

Organotitanates and zirconates of certain Organotitanates and zirconates of certain specific structure enable microbes to attack specific structure enable microbes to attack

weak points in the large molecules of the weak points in the large molecules of the plastic.plastic.

Typical results, ASTM D 5526Typical results, ASTM D 5526(IF moisture level is optimum)(IF moisture level is optimum)

Typical results, ASTM D 5526Typical results, ASTM D 5526(IF moisture level is optimum)(IF moisture level is optimum)

Filter paper – gone in 60 days at high H2OFilter paper – gone in 60 days at high H2O

PLA, Starch - 30 days at high moisturePLA, Starch - 30 days at high moisture

2 mil PVC film – no change 180 days2 mil PVC film – no change 180 days

With 2% additive – consumed in 60 daysWith 2% additive – consumed in 60 days

5 mil film “ “ - 90-120 days, brittle in 60 5 mil film “ “ - 90-120 days, brittle in 60 days days

PVC Landfill Decomposition at 35PVC Landfill Decomposition at 35°° C CPVC Landfill Decomposition at 35PVC Landfill Decomposition at 35°° C C

Landfill Decomposition with Landfill Decomposition with Additive (BIOflex)Additive (BIOflex)

Landfill Decomposition with Landfill Decomposition with Additive (BIOflex)Additive (BIOflex)

Optimum landfill moisture is 35-45%, Optimum landfill moisture is 35-45%, very slow at 60% and almost zero at very slow at 60% and almost zero at

97%, as in sewage treatment 97%, as in sewage treatment facilities. In ordinary service, heat facilities. In ordinary service, heat

resistance and outdoor weatherability resistance and outdoor weatherability equals that of the highest quality PVC equals that of the highest quality PVC

compositions.compositions.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 901.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

25mg PVC

No PVC

5 mg PVC

Soluble Cl (mg) in 10g ASTM D5526 compost containing 5 and 25 mg PVC vs. time (days)

Current Commercial ApplicationCurrent Commercial ApplicationCurrent Commercial ApplicationCurrent Commercial Application

Vinyl backings for billboards, displays, banners Vinyl backings for billboards, displays, banners Bioflex® landfillable compositionBioflex® landfillable composition

Plastisol coated on scrim reinforcement up to 5 Plastisol coated on scrim reinforcement up to 5 meters wide – Ultraflex Systems, Inc.meters wide – Ultraflex Systems, Inc.

Compost using landfill contains ~400 ppm Compost using landfill contains ~400 ppm soluble chloride – when used in soil, adds to soluble chloride – when used in soil, adds to fertilizer value by increasing rate of nitrogen fertilizer value by increasing rate of nitrogen

uptakeuptake

•Future Commercial ApplicationsFuture Commercial Applications

ToysToys Women’s Feminine Hygiene ProductsWomen’s Feminine Hygiene Products Disposable DiapersDisposable Diapers Automobile PlasticsAutomobile Plastics Personal Computer CasesPersonal Computer Cases Credit CardsCredit Cards PackagingPackaging Garbage BagsGarbage Bags Endless Plastic OpportunitiesEndless Plastic Opportunities

Aloe doing well, 50% compost Aloe doing well, 50% compost containing PVCcontaining PVC

Aloe doing well, 50% compost Aloe doing well, 50% compost containing PVCcontaining PVC

BIOflexBIOflex®®

Left Photo : BIOflex®, Day # 1

Right Photo : BIOflex® after 6 months-only polyester remains

BIOflex® 100 mil sample after 6 months

–Microbes eating PVC

BIOflex®BIOflex®

Solvay Type 910 PVDC. (Solvay Type 910 PVDC. (Polyvinylidene chloridePolyvinylidene chloride))Only Microscopic fragments are left after 30 days.Only Microscopic fragments are left after 30 days.

This sample is Solvay PVDC which contains zinc, cadmium and mercury. These heavy metals discourage microbes. Solvay Type A050 after 30 days with zero effect.

What was a 1” x 0.5” in sample of 5 mil thick What was a 1” x 0.5” in sample of 5 mil thick BIOflexBIOflex®® plastisol after 30 days, showing plastisol after 30 days, showing massive microbial attack.massive microbial attack.

Heavy gauge BIOflex® and wood fiber composite after 6 months.

Dr.Dr. Richard Grossman receives the Pinnacle Richard Grossman receives the Pinnacle Award from PDMAAward from PDMA

Is PVC immortal?Is PVC immortal?

Reports indicate that PVC persists Reports indicate that PVC persists indefinitely in landfillsindefinitely in landfills

Why is this? Contrary to popular Why is this? Contrary to popular belief, many microbes eat belief, many microbes eat chlorinated compounds, in fact have chlorinated compounds, in fact have been used to remediate sites been used to remediate sites contaminated with PCBscontaminated with PCBs

But these are low molecular weightBut these are low molecular weight

Below is a piece of Bioflex® plastisol, Below is a piece of Bioflex® plastisol, 100 mils thick, that had been cast on 100 mils thick, that had been cast on release paper and oven fused. After 3 release paper and oven fused. After 3

months in the landfill it shows months in the landfill it shows considerable microbial attack. It may considerable microbial attack. It may

take a year or more to vanish.take a year or more to vanish.

Here is the end result, after BIOflex® has vanished, only filler particles are left, plus unhappy microbial colonies that have run out of food.

This year’s school-lunch set has yet another green option: reusable, biodegradable lunch bags.

Vinyl is final, or at least we always used to think so. But advertising and marketing company Adrac, which is trying to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for placing the world's longest billboard in the city of Dubai next spring, promises that its 1.5 kilometer long billboard will be environmentally friendly and made from biodegradable PVC plastic.

World’s Largest Billboard Will Be ‘BIOflex® Biodegradable’ PVC

Doug Kanter for The New York Times

Since Mr. Tian migrated from Sichuan province, the multibillion-dollar recycling industry has gone into a nosedive because of the global economic crisis and a concomitant fall in commodity prices. Bottles now sell for half of what they did in the summer.“Even trash has become worthless,” Mr. Tian said recently as he made his way to a collection center, his sacks nearly bursting. The collapse of the recycling business has affected people like Mr. Tian, the middlemen who buy the waste products and the factories that refashion the recyclable waste into products bound for stores and construction sites around the world. American and European waste dealers who sell to China are finding that their shipments are being refused by clients when they arrive in Asia. The ultimate victim may be the environment, already overrun with enough trash in places to threaten people’s health, now further burdened with refuse that until recently would have been recycled.The effect is being felt acutely in China, the world’s largest garbage importer. The United States, for example, exported 11.6 million tons of recovered paper and cardboard last year to China, up from 2.1 million tons in 2000, according to the American Forest and Paper Association.

China’s Big Recycling Market Is Sagging

Data and information provided by:Data and information provided by:John Schleicher, Jr.John Schleicher, Jr.

John Sulano John Sulano

BIOtech ProductsBIOtech Products1578 Sussex Turnpike, Building #41578 Sussex Turnpike, Building #4

Randolph, NJ USA 07869Randolph, NJ USA 07869www.biotech-products.netwww.biotech-products.net

Copyright: March, 2009Copyright: March, 2009