3rd International PLASTiCE Conference

Future of Bioplastics

October 1-2nd 2013, Warsaw, Poland

COBRO – Packaging Research Institute Konstancińska 11 Street,

02-942 Warsaw Poland

Projekt współfinansowany jest ze środków Unii Europejskiej - Europejskiego Funduszu Rozwoju Regionalnego w ramach Programu dla Europy Środkowej, 3CE368P1, www.plastice.org

This project is implemented through the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme and co-financed by the ERDF

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Future of Bioplastics

3rd International PLASTiCE Conference

Warsaw, 1-2 October 2013

Bruno DE WILDE

Intensified Bioremediation of Plastic Wastes in

Composting and Other Surface Disposal Systems

Bruno DE WILDE

FIGURES

* DRANCO technology - UG, 1983 (pilot in 1984)

* FOUNDED IN 1988

* CONSOLIDATED SALES (2011-2013) : 19 MILLION €/YR

* EXPORT: 90%

* 70 EMPLOYEES

OFFICES

* HEAD OFFICE : GENT, BELGIUM

* AFFILIATES : OWS INC., DAYTON, OHIO, USADRANCO nvBES GmbH, Germany

* PARTNER: DJK INTERNATIONAL, TOKYO, JAPAN

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PURPOSE

* TERRESTRIAL BIODEGRADATION :

COMPOST, SOIL, ANAEROBIC DIGESTION, LANDFILL

* BIOREMEDIATION (NEW PROCESSES)

* BIOAUGMENTATION (EXISTING SITUATIONS OR PROCESSES)

* IN-SITU and EX-SITU BIODEGRADATION

END OF LIFE : ENVIRONMENTAL NICHES

PRODUCT USE/DISPOSAL

CONTROLLEDUNCONTROLLED

(LITTER)

WASTEWATER SOLID WASTE OPEN WATER SOIL MARINE

AEROBIC

TREATMENT

COMPOSTING

ANAEROBIC

TREATMENT

BIOGASIFICATION LANDFILL

USE OF COMPOST I N SOIL

ANAEROBIC

STABILISATIONCENTRAL HOME

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BIODEGRADATION ≠ DISINTEGRATION

BIODEGRADATION

DISINTEGRATION

(THICKNESS!)

BIODEGRADATION = MINERALISATION

POLYMERS

OLIGOMERS

MONOMERS

BIOCHEMICALS (alcohols, acids)

MINERALS (CO2, H2O, CH4)

+ BIOMASS

≠ MW LOSS

≠ ATP/ADP

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BIODEGRADATION = MINERALISATION

Aerobic biodegradation:

Cpolymer + O2 ⇒ CO2 + H2O + Cresidual + Cbiomass

Anaerobic biodegradation:

Cpolymer ⇒ CH4 + CO2 + Cresidual + Cbiomass

BIODEGRADATION – TEST RESULTS

% BIODEGRADATION

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ISO 14855 - CONTROLED COMPOSTING TEST

* BIODEGRADATION : CONVERSION C � CO2

* MATURE COMPOST � HIGH SIGNAL/BACKGROUND

* ALTERNATIVE OPTION : ARTIFICIAL

MATRIX : VERMICULITE

* HIGH TEMPERATURE (58°C)

� INDUSTRIAL COMPOSTING

* BIOMASS FORMATION

AND RESPIRATION

ISO 16929 – PILOT-SCALE COMPOSTING TEST

* FRESH (BIO)WASTE

* DESIGNED FOR DISINTEGRATION

* CAN IT BE USED FOR CULTIVATION of

PLASTOPHILIC M.O. ?

* OPERATING CONDITIONS ?

* For BIOREMEDIATION and

BIOAUGMENTATION

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ISO 17556 – SOIL BIODEGRADATION TEST

* BIODEGRADATION : CONVERSION C � CO2

* SOIL or MIXTURE of SOILS (better)

* ALTERNATIVE OPTION : ARTIFICIAL SOIL

(less indigenous, easier to manipulate ?)

* OPERATING CONDITIONS

* BIOMASS FORMATION AND RESPIRATION

ISO 15985 – HIGH-SOLIDS ANAEROBIC

BIODEGRADATION TEST

* BIODEGRADATION : CONVERSION C � CH4 + CO2

* REPRESENTATIVE for AD, can be used for LANDFILL

* NO OXYGEN

* OPERATING CONDITIONS

* STABLE BIOMASS FORMATION

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ISO 15985 – HIGH-SOLIDS ANAEROBIC

BIODEGRADATION TEST

1.

2.

3.

4.

Digester

Incubator

Gas Outlet

Gas Collector

5.

6.

7.

Valve

Gas Sampling

Gas Discharge

1

2

3

5

6

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ISO 15985 – HIGH-SOLIDS ANAEROBIC

BIODEGRADATION TEST

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CHALLENGES

* MICROBIAL POPULATION

MICROBIAL DIVERSITY

FUNGAL ACTIVITY

ACTIVITY and SURVIVAL OF NON-INDEGENOUS MO

* VERY SLOW AND LOW BIODEGRADATION

* TRUE BIODEGRADATION : DISTINCTION PRIMARY AND

SECONDARY EFFECTS

* REPEATABILITY

EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON MW

WHAT ABOUT LIGHT?

Source: Jackubowicz, 2003

CHALLENGES

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CHALLENGES

THANK YOU!