BIODEGRADATION
AS030C, biodegradation accelerator
It's an additive that serves as an accelerating agent for the biodegradation of polymers, it is based on an encapsulation of inorganic active ingredients that begin to act when the plastic container is subjected to OK COMPOST conditions, improving the efficiency of the composting process and reaching a reduction of plastic waste of 95% in 90 days.
During the shelf life of the container, the additive remains inactive and does not affect the mechanical or barrier properties and begins the activity once the container is subjected to 57°C and anaerobic conditions.
We find in the market many different names for degradable polymers, which can cause confusion.
Biodegradable
Compostable
Oxodegradable
Polymer origin renowable
Recycling
These concepts are not interchangeable, as can be seen in scheme 1, since all polymers are biodegradable only in a matter of time, some take 500 years and another 180 days.
Oxodegradable polymers are today those that can be fragmented by the action of the sun and time, because in their formulation they carry oxidants, but the decomposition is not usually complete and they are microplastic generators, in fact they will be banned in the EU since 2021.
ENCAPSULAE has patented the biodegradation technology and registered in Spain through the P201990046 patent.
The additive AS030C generates a deficit of negative charges under compost conditions, recombining the polymer chains with which breakages are generated and ends by means of hydrolysis mechanisms breaking down the polymer into much shorter chains that end up transforming into carbon dioxide with the action of compost bacteria.
Scheme 1: Classification of polymers for packaging according to origin and degradation rate.
Images of the degradation of a bottle between 0 and 180 days.
The normative EN 13432 marks four basic conditions to consider a compostable polymer.
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In the control of the components the absence of heavy materials is verified.
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The biodegradability threshold meets 90% at 6 months maximum.
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The disintegration generates fragments of materials smaller than 2mm X 2mm after 12 weeks.
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The ecotoxicity of humus is nil.
