Biodegradable plasticisers

ElAmin, A. (2006). Biodegradable plasticiser developed as phthalate replacement [online]. Available from http //www.packwire.com/news/printNewsBk.asp id=64903 [Accessed 7 March 2007]. 

Biodegradable plasticisers - used in applications such as rubbish bags, food packaging and check-out bags whereby the material breaks down in a pre-programmed manner under defined conditions. 

Dainippon Ink Chemicals Inc. offers a polyester based impact modifier specifically for use in the biodegradable polymer, polylactic acid. Arakawa Chemical has developed biodegradable plasticisers for what is expected to be a rapidly expanding market associated with Cargill Dow s polylactic acid product. 

As a result of development work between the Battelle Institute in Frankfurt and a German candle-making company, Aetema, biodegradable cellulose acetate compounds have been available since 1991 from the Rhone-Poulenc subsidiary Tubize Plastics. They are marketed under the trade names Bioceta and Biocellat. The system is centred round the use of an additive which acts both as a plasticiser and a biodegrading agent, causing the cellulose ester to decompose within 6-24 months. 

In 1991 Rhone-Poulenc offered biodegradable cellulose acetate compounds in which an additive acts both as plasticiser and biodegrading agent (see Section 22.2.2.1). 

As pointed out above, PVAc is frequently not used as a hompolymer but rather as the major component of a copolymer (VAE, terpolymers, vinylacrylics, etc.). Additionally, in the applications mentioned above PVAc and the related polymers are usually not used alone but as a part of a more or less complex mixture with other components. These components can be, for example, fillers, plasticisers, impact modifiers, compatibilisers, or other polymers. These components need to be taken into account when discussing biodegradabUity. They influence the biodegradability of the mixture as a whole but they may in particular influence the biodegradability of the PVAc moiety by altering the physical circumstances under which degradation reactions can take place. 

INFLUENCE OF BIODEGRADATION ON THE LOSS OF A PLASTICISER FROM POLYVINYL CHLORIDE... 

Gumargalieva, K. Z., Zaikov, G. E., Semenov, S. A. Zhdanova, O. A. (1999). The influence of biodegradation on the loss of a plasticiser from poly(vinyl chloride). Polymer Degradation and Stability, 63, 111-12. 

Sabev, H. A. (2004). Fungal biodeterioration and biodegradation of plasticised polyvinyl chloride in soil. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis. University of Manchester. 

As the long chain olefins produced in the low temperature FT synthesis are almost exclusively linear alpha olefins, they are ideal for producing easily biodegradable detergents. Cuts from the Cg to products are reacted with benzene to produce alkyl benzenes which are sulphonated to give the detergents. The paraffins in the feedstock pass through the process, are chlorinated and used as plasticisers. Linear olefins can also be hydrofor-mulated to yield linear aldehydes and alcohols. 

Some safer (green) plasticisers (with better biodegradability and no biochemical effects) ... 

There are plasticisers developed from renewable sources that are degradable. The Hallgreen plasticiser (diisooctyl sebacate RTD Hallstar Inc) is one such, which is mainly certain ester compounds, and can replace the conventional petroleum-based plasticisers. It does not contain any toxic substances and is completely safe for humans, and also completely biodegradable. Already a number of examples of green, degradable, sustainable plasticisers have been developed and there are also a number of ongoing studies. The most critical one should be the one to replace phthalates. Yearly about... 

Martin, O., Schwach, E., Averous, L., Couturier, Y. Properties of biodegradable multilayer films based on plasticised wheat starch. Starch 53, 372-380 (2001)... 

A positive result in an agar plate test indicates that an organism can grow on the substrate, but does not mean that the polymer is biodegradable, since growth may be on contaminants, on plasticisers present, on oligomeric fractions still present in the polymer, and so on. Therefore, these tests should be treated with caution when extrapolating the data to field situation. 

JbilouF, Joly C, Galland S, Belard L, DesjardinV, Bayard R, DoleP, DegraeveP. Biodegradation study of plasticised com flour/poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) blends. Polym Test 2013 32 (8) 1565-1575. 

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