Brief explanation of biodegradation additive to solve micro and macro plastic problems. Biodegradation additive make conventional plastic become biodegradable. The biodegradation process has two stap biodegradation. First, abiotic degradation triggered by physical and chemical process. Secondly, biodegradation stage; which convert the plastic residual into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass by microbial activities.
2. Bioplastic
Quadrant
Additive
Kakadellis, Sarah, and Zoe M. Harris. "Don’t
scrap the waste: The need for broader
system boundaries in bioplastic food
packaging life-cycle assessment–A critical
review." Journal of Cleaner Production 274
(2020): 122831.
4. Biodegradation mechanism by
additive
Biodegradation of conventional plastic by additive is a
two-stage process, i.e. first degradation into small
fragments with lower molecular weight which is
triggered by physical and chemical stress, heat, photo-
degradation.
Secondly, these fragments are biologically ready to
biodegrade by microorganisms and be converted into
carbon dioxide, water and biomass. The rate at which
this happens for conventional plastics is very slow,
taking decades or even centuries.
Biodegradable additives are catalysts that accelerate
this biodegradation process so that it occurs over a few
months to a couple of years.
Degradation by physical and
chemical process
7. Ocean Plastic Waste
Macro and Micro Plastic Waste:
around 2.3 million tons
Micro Plastic Waste:
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/08/world/ocean-plastic-pollution-climate-
intl/index.html#:~:text=The%20world's%20oceans%20are%20polluted,according%20to%20a%20new%20stud
y.
around 35,540 tons
https://endplasticwaste.org/en/our-stories/the-plastic-waste-problem-
explained?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj_ajBhCqARIsAA37s0zDJG6dXgqalJJu5ZLTNu4hb3IbOZ_OfSKUSe8BiQpYLqPV_4jBL9
MaArTaEALw_wcB
8. What are microplastics…..????
Larger pieces quantified into smaller pieces.
Classified according to length.
<5 mm considered to be microplastics.
All kind of conventional plastic could be degraded into
microplastic.
Microplastic persistent for hundreds of years in the
environment.
9. PRIMARY
MICROPLASTICS
Those which enter the
marine environment in their
« micro » size
SECONDARY
MICROPLASTICS
Resulting from the
breakdown of larger
plastics in the marine
environment
Fibres Pellets
Microbeads
Fragments
Foam
Films
TYPES OF MICROPLASTICS | Overview
10. 35%
24%
28%
Global releases of primary microplastics to the
world oceans by source (in %)
https://resourcelab.dk/plastics/pollution/oceans/2018/10/11/plastic-polution-tires-clothing.html
11. Microplastic formation and Biodegradation
Plastic waste degradation and biodegradation are NATURAL PROCESS but
need hundreds of years to complete. Microplastic will be persistent for
hundreds years in the environment before completely biodegraded into
CO2, H2O and biomass.
Hundreds of years
Decades
Decades
Plastic Wastes Meso-Micro Plastic
CO2
H2O
Biomass
Fragmentation
12. Khoironi, Adian, et al.
"Evaluation of polypropylene
plastic degradation and
microplastic identification in
sediments at Tambak Lorok
coastal area, Semarang,
Indonesia." Marine pollution
bulletin 151 (2020): 110868.
14. Hundreds of Years
Several Years
Additive technology speed
up the NATURAL PROCESS
of plastic degradation and
biodegradation from
hundreds of years into only
several years.
OXIUM Plastic
Degraded into
small molecule
weight
CO2
H2O
Biomass
Biodegradation
16. Standard Test for Biodegradable Additives
ASTM 6954
Standard Guide for
Exposing and Testing
Plastics that Degrade in
the Environment by a
Combination of
Oxidation and
Biodegradation.
17. Accelerated Degradation Test
- Molecular Weight Analysis
- Biodegradation Test
ASTM D5208-14, Standard Practice for Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) Exposure of Photodegradable Plastics
20. Biodegradation Test – ASTM D5338
- CO2 evolution analyzed
by titration method.
- Percentages of
degradation calculated
based on the CO2
released in the system
as result of
biodegradation of the
Biodegradable plastic.
21.
22. Ecotoxicity test
- Ecotoxicity
- Plant growth
- Terrestrial toxicity test
- Aquatic toxicity test
- Plant Germination test
- Earthworm Test
Editor's Notes
Microplastics can be divided into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary microplastics are those which enter the environment already in this size category either because they have been manufactured that size (eg. pre-industrial pellets or “nurdles”) or resulting from the abrasion of larger plastic items during manufacturing or use (e.g. clothes fibres released during washing process). 98% of losses of primary microplastics are from land-based activities. Secondary microplastics are those which originate from larger plastic objects degrading in the marine environment through the effect of wind, waves or sunlight, such as fragments, films and foams.
Microbeads, famous for their presence in cosmetics, but also used in sandblasting, are mini-microplastics of the primary kind.