Biodegradation* Testing Questions

How do you know that a plastic product made with EcoPure® completely disappears? Have you tested this?

ASTM D 5511 tests are currently being performed that show significant rates of biodegradation* of EcoPure® treated materials. Please contact Bio-Tec Environmental to review our biodegradation* test results.

What is the ASTM standardized testing methods for biodegradation?

• D6400 Standard Specification for Compostable Plastics – Defines the testing parameters for performing the D5338 Test Method

• D5338 Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under Controlled Composting Conditions – Standard test method for aerobic biodegradation for industrial compost environments.

• D5511 Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic Digestion Conditions – Standard test method for anaerobic biodegradation for landfill environments.

What’s the difference between the ASTM D6400 standard and the ASTM D5511 test?

The ASTM D6400 is a standard specification that is used to evaluate the results obtained from ASTM D5338 compostability testing. The ASTM D5511 is a test method that evaluates the biodegradability of plastic in anaerobic, or oxygen-less, conditions. The ASTM D6400 standard is not used to evaluate data obtained from D5511 testing.

Which ASTM biodegradable testing standards have EcoPure® products been tested according to?

Plastics made with EcoPure® show accelerated biodegradation* in both aerobic and anaerobic environments. The customary disposal method of plastic bottles being either recycled or landfill we feel the most applicable test methods would be for anaerobic (landfill) environments. We therefore test EcoPure® products under the scrutiny of the ASTM D 5511 which is a standard test method for determining anaerobic biodegradation* of plastic materials under high-solids anaerobic digestion conditions.

Do EcoPure® products meet ASTM 6400 standards?

Plastics made with EcoPure® show accelerated biodegradation* in both aerobic and anaerobic environments. The customary disposal method for plastic is landfilling, not composting, so Bio-Tec Environmental engineered EcoPure® to perform best in anaerobic environments. EcoPure® is not designed to biodegrade* plastics in the timeframe required for professional composting facilities, and so currently does not meet the D6400 standard.

Will plastic made with EcoPure® biodegrade in the marine environments and have you tested this?

EcoPure® products should show accelerated biodegradation* in any active microbial environment, including lakes, oceans and streams. Our testing confirms that EcoPure®-treated products show biodegradation* in both aerobic and anaerobic environments, but we have not tested EcoPure® in a marine environment at this time, and make no specific claims regarding marine-degradability.

What happens to a product made with EcoPure® that ends up in a roadside ditch?

Biodegradation of EcoPure® products will occur anywhere there is an active microbial environment. Sitting on the dirt next to the road will subject the bottle to an active microbial environment; however the entire bottle will not be subjected to the microbial environment simultaneously and will result in a much longer biodegradation period. Plastic litter also has an unfortunate habit of blowing in the wind and floating on water, which might serve to disrupt some microbe colonies during the biodegradation process, which might then slow the process down.

What are the benefits of placing EcoPure®-treated products in a landfill?

Over 75% of plastic bottles and over 94% of all plastics in general end up in landfills. Landfill environments are anaerobic in nature and produce methane gas as a by-product of anaerobic fermentation taking place deep within. Methane can be harvested from landfills and is a source for clean, inexpensive energy. The Clean Air Act requires all landfills to reclaim methane and other Green House Gasses (GHG) and either burn it or use it to produce energy. Read more - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Air_Act Methane from landfills is an inexpensive form of “green” energy that is readily available at landfill sites around the globe. Read more – http://www.methanetomarkets.org Plastic Degradation Technology Questions

What are oxo-degradable additives and how do they work?

Oxo-degradable additives introduce metallic salts into traditional polymers, making them susceptible to rapid degradation when in the presence of sunlight and oxygen. This process breaks the polymer chains into small pieces, causing the waste plastic to disintegrate in the environment.

What is PLA (Polylactic Acid) and how does it work?

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a polymer derived from starchy plants such as corn. To make PLA, corn kernels are milled and dextrose is extracted and fermented, producing lactic acid as a by-product. This lactic acid is then refined and used to produce raw PLA pellets. PLA is presumed to be biodegradable, although the role of hydrolysis vs. enzymatic depolymerization in this process remains open to debate. Composting conditions capable of degrading PLA are found only in industrial composting facilities where high temperature (above 140F), high relative humidity (RH), and a 2/3 mixture of organic food based materials can be controlled in order to supply the necessary nutrients that promote chain hydrolysis. This is required to break down the polymer structure before microbial activity can break down the remaining material.

What are PHB and PHA bioplastics?

Polyhydroxyalkanoates, or PHAs, are linear polyesters produced in nature by bacterial fermentation of sugar or lipids. More than 150 monomers can be combined within this family of polymers to produce materials with different, useful properties. These plastics are biodegradable and are used in the production of bioplastics. They can be either thermoplastic or elastomeric materials, with melting points ranging from 40 to 180 °C. The mechanical and biocompatibility of PHA can be changed by blending, modifying the surface, or combining PHA with other polymers, enzymes and inorganic materials, making a wide range of applications possible. Read more - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyhydroxyalkanoates

Which type of degradable plastic is the best for the environment? Oxo-degradable, PLA, or EcoPure®?

For a landfill accelerated biodegradation, commercially viable product EcoPure® is the best technology on the market. It is a proven, versatile technology that has many advantages over competing technologies. Oxo-degradable products fragment into small pieces of plastic that are often mistaken for food by animals, and will not degrade at all unless in the presence of sunlight, moisture, and oxygen. Oxo-degradable plastic basically needs to be littered to degrade, and we feel that this is an irresponsible solution to the plastic waste problem. PLA production requires components sourced from food-crops, which we feel should be eaten rather than used to make plastic. The corn used to produce PLA is a Genetically Modified Organism and requires heavy pesticides in the farming process, and out-competes viable neighboring food-crops. This material is touted as being compostable, but only composts in commercial/industrial grade facilities, which are unavailable in most areas of the world.

* Biodegradation rates of EcoPure®-treated plastic materials measured according to the ASTM D5511 test method.  Tests are generally conducted using 20% to 30% solids content; solids content in naturally wetter landfills range from 55% to 65%, while the driest landfills may reach 93%.  Actual biodegradation rates will vary in biologically-active landfills according to the type of plastic used, the product configuration, and the solid content, temperature and moisture levels of the landfill. Find out more about biodegradability testing in our resource library.