Polyethylene Ecolyte

R2 polystyrene (Ecolyte PS), polyethylene (Ecolyte PE) and polypropylene (Ecolyte PP) are the first to be developed. Controlled outdoor lifetimes over a very wide range of time periods (days to months) are possible with apparent long term stability indoors. 

Figure 12.5 Biodegradability of photodegraded Ecolyte polystyrene and polyethylene in various soil environments.

Table 12.7 Biodegradation index (BDRI) for fractions of photodegraded Ecolyte polyethylene in sewage sludge...

Three film samples were prepared, each of which contained 20% labelled polyethylene Blend A, Ecolyte low-density polyethylene (photodegraded) Blend B, low-density polyethylene (not photodegraded) and Blend C, low-density polyethylene with 16% starch. 

Ecolyte later developed a masterbatch process for polyethylene in which MIPK was grafted to a low-density polyethylene substrate. This was produced for agricultural applications and the film was produced by Atlantic Packaging Limited of Toronto. The plastic film was sold mainly for farms in Florida growing melons and tomatoes. Atlantic found it difficult to compete with local producers who used recycled material. The masterbatch was later also marketed by Eco Atlantic in Baltimore, Maryland. 

It was reported from Union Carbide that the photooxidation products of ethylene-carbon monoxide copolymers do not reach low enough molar mass values to support bioassimilation. This conclusion may have been based, however, on a misinterpretation of the earUer work with unoxidized hydrocarbons and a very Umited number of microbial cultures. GuiUet, in contrast, demonstrated that photodegraded Ecolyte polyethylene and polypropylene are bioassimilated by common soil bacteria, albeit rather slowly. 

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