Plastics may be either (a) photodegradable or (b) semi-biodegradable or (c) 100% biodegradable. Photodegradable plastics have light sensitive groups incorpora ted directly into backbone of the polymer as additives. This produces non-degradable smaller fragments which cause loss of material integrity. Example of semibiodegradable plastic can be blends of starch and polyethylene. PHB is an example of 100% biodegradable plastic. Approximately a dozen of inherently biodegradable plastics are now in the market, with range of properties suitable for various consumer products. Some examples of biodegradable films or other raw material (for biodegradable plastic articles) made by different companies are -
(1) BASF - Ecoflex - for biodegradable garbage bags - made up of polyester
building blocks that offer properties similar to LDPE (10000 tonnes production
plant at Ludwigshafen, Germany.
(2) Bayer - BAKbiodegradable polyester amide. - contains ester and amide groups
similar to that in nature.- therefore biodegradable.
(3) Dupont's - BioMax
(4) Eastman's - EasterBio
(5) Cargill-Dow's - EcoPla
All of them are targetting market of 70000 tonnes by 2001.
(6) Arrow Coated Products Ltd. (ACPL) has started bioplastic watr soluble film
production in India in Gujrat State at Ankleshwar. But capacity is only 600
tonnes per annum. They do not export any of it.
(7) Om Engineers (India) - have also tested and about to introduce LDPE
modified biodegradable film (for which they have applied for patent even.
(8) Fasalex, The Institute for AgroBiotechnology, Kopfig, Austria have developed biodegradable material using sawdust and corn grit held together with cellulose based natural resin. This material can be processed by same machines which are otherwise used for normal plastic.
(9) Environmental polymers of Warrington make biodegradable polymer which can be melt - processed by film blowing or injection moulding etc. Product is water soluble and is useful for interior purpose. It is based on PVOH.
Estimate of current global market for biodegradable plastic is 1.3 billion kg per year. Estimated global market for biodegradable polymers will reach 1.4 billion tons by the year 2000. In response to increasing public concern over environmental hazard caused by plastic, many countries are conducting various solid waste management programmes incl uding plastic waste reduction by development of biodegradable plastic material. There is an intense research for making the biodegradable plastic. Some biodegradable plastic materials under development are -
(1) BASF - Ecoflex - for biodegradable garbage bags - made up of polyester
building blocks that offer properties similar to LDPE (10000 tonnes production
plant at Ludwigshafen, Germany.
(2) Bayer - BAKbiodegradable polyester amide. - contains ester and amide groups
similar to that in nature.- therefore biodegradable.
(3) Dupont's - BioMax
(4) Eastman's - EasterBio
(5) Cargill-Dow's - EcoPla
All of them are targetting market of 70000 tonnes by 2001.
(6) Arrow Coated Products Ltd. (ACPL) has started bioplastic watr soluble film
production in India in Gujrat State at Ankleshwar. But capacity is only 600
tonnes per annum. They do not export any of it.
(7) Om Engineers (India) - have also tested and about to introduce LDPE
modified biodegradable film (for which they have applied for patent even.
(8) Fasalex, The Institute for AgroBiotechnology, Kopfig, Austria have developed biodegradable material using sawdust and corn grit held together with cellulose based natural resin. This material can be processed by same machines which are otherwise used for normal plastic.
(9) Environmental polymers of Warrington make biodegradable polymer which can be melt - processed by film blowing or injection moulding etc. Product is water soluble and is useful for interior purpose. It is based on PVOH.
Estimate of current global market for biodegradable plastic is 1.3 billion kg per year. Estimated global market for biodegradable polymers will reach 1.4 billion tons by the year 2000. In response to increasing public concern over environmental hazard caused by plastic, many countries are conducting various solid waste management programmes incl uding plastic waste reduction by development of biodegradable plastic material. There is an intense research for making the biodegradable plastic. Some biodegradable plastic materials under development are -
- PHAs
- Polylactides
- Aliphatic polyesters
- Polysaccharides
- Co-polymers and/or blends of above.
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