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Testing the performance and the disintegration of biodegradable bags for the collection of organic wastes
Author(s) -
Kaiser J.P.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3900(200103)165:1<115::aid-masy115>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - biodegradation , compost , mineralization (soil science) , waste management , polycaprolactone , pulp and paper industry , chemistry , polymer , organic chemistry , nitrogen , engineering
The biodegradability of five different biodegradable garbage bags were analyzed according to the DIN‐Standard draft 54'900 “Measurement of the compostability of polymers”. The tests have to prove that a “biodegradable polymer” can be degraded under controlled composting conditions. Five different types of bags were tested. The bags were made from cornstarch, polycaprolactone and Kraft paper. To claim compostability the material has to biodegrade and to disintegrate in a composting system, to mineralize completely to carbon dioxide and water, and to fulfill several quality criteria such as a limited amount of heavy metals, no toxic organic compounds and no organic non‐biodegradable additives. The analysis of the heavy metal content showed that the polymers themself contained very low amounts of heavy metals. However, the printing with green and blue colors with copper pigments was increasing the copper content in all products. The mineralization experiments showed that all five materials disintegrated during the rotting process in standardized compost and all five tested products also fulfilled the mineralization rate of 60% within six months.