CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF PETROCHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Workshop on
‘Current Practices for End-of-Life Plastics in Circular Economy and Recycling Approach’

Biodegradable Polymers and Manufacturing Practices

Presented by
Ms. Kajal Mishra
Assistant Professor
Department of Petrochemical Engineering
CIPET-IPT, Jaipur
Rajasthan- 302022
25th November, 2022
 A little bit of vocabulary first

Bio-based Bio-plastics Biodegradable

The term “biobased” (in agreement with the Bioplastics are biobased and/or biodegradable We can talk about a biodegradable
norm EN 16575 : 2014) represents a part of polymers. These materials are split into two groups: material if it can be decomposed and
material made completely or partially from biobased polymers equivalent to existing fossil- absorbed by micro-organisms (bacteria,
renewable resources. based polymers (bio-based PE, PET etc.) and fungus, algae, etc.). The result of this
biobased and/or biodegradable polymers with process is the formation of water, CO₂
innovative structures (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT, etc.) and/or methane.
Motivation
 Facts

Japan 3% CIS*** 3%
Latin America 4%
Middle East and Africa
7% China 32%

Europe 15%

India Plastic consumption regions in India-2021

17% NAFTA** 19%

Plastic material production worldwide region-

Others 3% Automotive 7%
2021 Electrical and electronics 2%
Agriculture 9%

Packaging and biomedical

42%
Building and construction 13%

Household 7%

***Plastindia Foundation. (March 4, 2022). Distribution of plastic consumption* in India in 2021, by sector [Graph]. Rigid packaging 17%
In Statista. Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009117/india-plastic-consumption-share-
by-sector/
 Degradable Vs. Biodegradable

• A number of polymers in the market place are designed to be degradable, i.e. they fragment into smaller pieces
and may even degrade to residues invisible to the naked eye. While it is assumed that the breakdown products
will eventually biodegrade, there are no data to document complete biodegradability within a reasonably short
time period.

• Biodegradable polymers (BDPs) or biodegradable plastics refer to polymeric materials that are ‘capable of
undergoing decomposition into carbon dioxide, methane, water, inorganic compounds, or biomass in which the
predominant mechanism is the enzymatic action of microorganisms, that can be measured by standardized tests,
in a specified period of time, reflecting available disposal condition’ (ASTM standard D6813).
Types of biodegradable polymers
 Researches and articles

** Moshood, T.D., Nawanir, G., Mahmud, F., Mohamad, F., Ahmad, M.H. and AbdulGhani, A., 2022. Sustainability of biodegradable plastics: New problem or solution to solve the global plastic pollution?. Current Research in Green
and Sustainable Chemistry, p.100273.
Poly(lactic) acid
Application of PLA-based materials
 Biodegradation Vs. Composting

• Biodegradable and compostable are terms used when describing organic materials breaking down in a specific
environment. Both terms are often used when defining environmentally friendly products and are often
misused!

• Compostable plastics are biodegradable in composting conditions, while other plastics degrade in the soil
(landfills or anaerobic digestors).

• It is important to note that compostability is a characteristic of a product, packaging or associated component

that allows it to biodegrade under specific conditions (e.g. a certain temperature, timeframe, etc.). Hence, the
primary difference between compostable and biodegradable is that compostable plastics are biodegradable in
composting conditions, while other plastics degrade in the soil (landfills or anaerobic digesters).

Compostable is always biodegradable

Biodegradable is not always compostable
Biodegradability Standards
Degradation stages
Degradation stages in different environments
Literature review
Literature review
 Work on biodegradable plastic film

100-150 µm

<53 µm Pure PLA film

Work on biodegradable plastic film

Material Initial 15 60 90
PLA

Alkali
treated
PLA-fiber
 Composting

• Micro-organisms use the carbon substrates to extract chemical energy that drives their life processes by aerobic
oxidation of glucose and other readily usable C-substrates.

• A measure of the rate and amount of CO2 evolved in the process is a direct measure of the amount and rate of
microbial use (biodegradation) of the C-polymer. This forms the basis for various international standards for
measuring biodegradability or microbial use of the test polymer/plastics.

• The rate and extent of biodegradation or microbial use of a test plastic material can be measured by using it as
the sole added carbon source in a test system containing a microbially rich matrix-like compost in the presence
of air, and under optimal temperature conditions (preferably at 58°C—representing the thermophilic phase)
 Composting requirements

• Conversion to CO2, water and biomass via microbial assimilation of the test polymer material in powder, film or
granule form.

• Time—180 days or less (ASTM D6400 also has the requirement that if radiolabelled polymer is used and the
radiolabelled evolved CO2 is measured, then the time can be extended to 365 days).

• Disintegration: <10 per cent of test material mass retained by a 2 mm sieve using test polymer material in the
shape and thickness identical to the product's final intended use—see ISO 16929 and ISO 20200.

• Safety: the resultant compost should have no impacts on plants, using OECD Guide 208, Terrestrial Plants,
Growth Test or similar, such as PAS 100 (BSI 2002). Furthermore, regulated (heavy) metals content in the
polymer material should be less than defined thresholds e.g. 50 per cent of EPA (USA and Canada) prescribed
threshold.
 Home (domestic) composting

• In addition to kitchen and garden waste, home composting of biodegradable packaging materials could divert
waste from municipal collection systems and complement industrial composting.
• It must be noted that it is difficult to regulate home composting, and anaerobic composting conditions occurring
in poorly managed systems will result in the generation of methane.
• Home composting using compost bins or heaps is more variable and less optimized than industrial composting
and the temperature achieved is rarely more than a few °C above ambient temperature
Composting
Composting
Work on biodegradation in composting environment
Work on biodegradation in home composting environment
 Manufacturing processes of biodegradable films: Lab scale
Solution Casting
Method

A B

Mixer
Duration- 60 mins
Speed – 600 RPM

Mold Size –
30x30x2 mm3 and cured for 24hrs

Natural filler based composite film

made by solution casting method
Manufacturing processes of biodegradable films: Lab scale

Nanofiber

HV
Manufacturing processes of biodegradable films: Industrial scale

Blown film extrusion

Manufacturing processes of biodegradable films: Industrial scale

Blown film extrusion

 Concluding remarks

• Biodegradable plastics can be used to replace conventional plastics to improve the environment while also
ensuring the long-term availability of petroleum resources.
• Biodegradable plastics have shown to be quite useful in irradiating medical devices and food. Many issues
might be handled, and a green environment could be preserved for a long time, thanks to the manufacture of
biodegradable plastics.
• The main difficulties that must be effectively solved are the high production costs and low performance of
some biodegradable plastics, which require more study to prevent competing with other environmental
effects.
• Biodegradable bioplastics are most suitable for biological waste treatment through industrial and/or
domestic composting and, subject to further demonstration, potentially in anaerobic digestion systems.
• They should ideally be separated at the household level from other, non-biodegradable materials and
collected with organic waste, including food waste.
• By using these biological treatment methods, the total quantities of waste sent to landfill are reduced and the
composts generated can be used as valuable soil improvers.
Thank You….