U.S. patent application number 10/432813 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-29 for biodegradable composition for preparing table-ware, mulching film and package and method for preparing the same.
Invention is credited to Xu, Hao.
Application Number | 20040082678 10/432813 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 4595649 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040082678 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Xu, Hao |
April 29, 2004 |
Biodegradable composition for preparing table-ware, mulching film
and package and method for preparing the same
Abstract
The present invention relates to a biodegradable composition for
the preparation of table-ware, mulching film and package, which
comprises: 2-6% by weight of starch; 35-45% by weight of plant
powders; 20-30% by weight of calcium carbonate; 2-7% by weight of
sorbital; 7-13% by weight of polypropene; 2-5% by weight of
polyethylene; 2-6% by weight of coupling agent; 1-2% by weight of
defoamer; 2-5% by weight of stearic acid; 2-6% by weight of
stearate; 3-6% by weight of glycerine or epoxidized soybean oil;
and 60-100 ppm photosensitizer. The present invention also relates
to a method for preparing the composition, which comprises:
treating a plant wastes with a diluent acid, drying and
pulverizing, then mixing it with starch, polypropene, and
polyethylene, sorbital, defoamer, coupling agent, stearic acid,
stearate, glycerine and photosensitizer homogeneously; blending the
mixture obtained in a double-screw extruder at a temperature of
160-180 C to obtain the composition of the present invention.
Inventors: |
Xu, Hao; (Shenzhen City,
CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stephen M De Klerk
Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman
Seventh Floor
12400 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles
CA
90025
US
|
Family ID: |
4595649 |
Appl. No.: |
10/432813 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
November 23, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN01/01581 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
522/1 ; 264/140;
264/211.23; 522/33; 522/6; 522/71; 522/72; 522/88 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02A 40/284 20180101;
B29B 7/90 20130101; Y02A 40/28 20180101; B29C 48/40 20190201; C09K
17/52 20130101; C08L 3/00 20130101; C08L 3/02 20130101; C08L 3/00
20130101; C08L 2666/02 20130101; C08L 3/02 20130101; C08L 2666/02
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
522/001 ;
264/140; 264/211.23; 522/006; 522/033; 522/071; 522/072;
522/088 |
International
Class: |
B29C 047/60 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 23, 2000 |
CN |
00133318.6 |
Claims
1. A biodegradable composition for the preparation of table-ware,
drink containers, mulching film and package, comprising: 2-6% by
weight of starch; 35-45% by weight of plant powders; 20-30% by
weight of calcium carbonate; 2-7% by weight of sorbital; 7-13% by
weight of polypropene; 2-5% by weight of polyethylene; 2-6% by
weight of coupling agent; 1-2% by weight of defoamer; 2-5% by
weight of stearic acid; 2-6% by weight of stearate; 3-6% by weight
of glycerine or epoxidized soybean oil; and 60-100 ppm
photosensitizer.
2. The composition according to claim 1, comprising: 3-5% by weight
of starch; 35-40% by weight of plant powders; 20-30% by weight of
calcium carbonate; 4-6% by weight of sorbital; 8-11% by weight of
polypropene; 3-4% by weight of polyethylene; 3-5% by weight of
coupling agent; 1-2% by weight of defoamer; 3-4% by weight of
stearic acid; 3-5% by weight of stearate; 3-5% by weight of
glycerine or epoxidized soybean oil; and 60-100 ppm
photosensitizer.
3. The composition according to claim 2, comprising: 3% by weight
of starch; 37% by weight of plant powders; 25% by weight of calcium
carbonate; 5% by weight of sorbital; 9% by weight of polypropene;
3% by weight of polyethylene; 5% by weight of coupling agent; 4% by
weight of stearic acid; 4% by weight of stearate; 1% by weight of
defoamer; 4% by weight of glycerine or epoxidized soybean oil and
60 ppm photosensitizer.
4. The composition according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the starch
includes corn starch, potato starch, ipomoea batatas starch,
cassava starch and their modified starch with a grain size of
larger than 70 mesh.
5. The composition according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein, the plant
powder is the powder of one or more plants in sugar cane residue,
peanut shell, dry pine needle, rice husk, millet bran and soybean
shell.
6. The composition according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein, the
calcium carbonate is light or heavy calcium carbonate with a grain
size of larger than 70 mesh.
7. The composition according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein, the
coupling agent is silane.
8. The composition according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein, the
stearate is ferrite stearate, magnesium stearate or calcium
stearate.
9. The composition according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein, the
stearate is ferrite stearate.
10. The composition according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein, the
photosensitizer is benzophenone.
11. The composition according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein, the
defoamer is emulsified silicone oil.
12. A method for preparing a biodegradable composition for the
preparation of table-ware, mulching film and package, comprising:
(1) treating one or more plant wastes selected from the group
consisting of sugar cane residue, peanut shell, dry pine needle,
rice husk, millet bran and soybean shell soaked in a 0.2-1.0% by
weight of sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid solution for 2-10
hours to degrease and modify and to wash, and then drying the same
to let it have a water content of less than 10%; mixing the
obtained plant wastes with starch, sorbital, polypropene, and
polyethylene, and pulverizing the obtained mixture to obtain a
powder with a particle size of less than 70 mesh; mixing the
obtained powder with calcium carbonate, stearic acid, stearate,
coupling agent, defoamer, glycerine or epoxidized soybean oil and
photosensitizer homogeneously; (2) blending the mixture obtained in
step(1) in a double-screw extruder at a temperature of 160-180 C to
obtain the composition of the present invention.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a biodegradable composition
and a method for preparing the same, especially to a biodegradable
composition for the preparation of tableware, drink container,
mulching film and package, and a method for preparing the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] With the development of the modem industry, especially the
rapid development of the petroleum chemical engineering, a lot of
synthetic resins and plastic articles with good properties and low
costs have been provided for the industrial and agricultural
production and our daily life. The use of plastic film, foamed
plastic articles (for example, package materials, etc) and plastic
sheets in many fields has greatly promoted the industrial and
agricultural productions and enriched people's daily life. However,
the plastic wastes after use are abandoned everywhere, such as
ground, rivers, mountains, streets and parks, which pollutes the
environment seriously and produces one of the most harmful
environmental pollution called "white pollution" and therefore
draws extensive attentions. In recent years, more and more
countries make laws to restrict the use of plastic films and foamed
plastics. At the same time, great efforts are made to develop
various kinds of degradable resins and plastic articles.
[0003] In addition, with the acceleration of the living rhythm,
snack foods are many people's favor more and more. Snack foods need
a lot of tableware and drink containers. In the past, the tableware
and drink containers for snack foods are mainly made of foamed
plastics, which are harmful to human body and the environment at
high temperatures, and therefore are prohibited to use any more. In
order to solve these problems, people has tried to substitute paper
tableware and drink containers for plastic ones for snack foods.
However, the paper tableware and drink containers for snack foods
have the disadvantages of more complex production procedures and
higher costs. It is also tried to solve these problems by using
plastics material and modified starch to produce the tableware and
drink containers for snack foods, but this kind of tableware and
drink containers have the disadvantages of lower biodegradability,
higher costs and possible secondary pollution.
[0004] Similarly, plastic films, foamed plastic articles (for
example, package materials, etc) and plastic sheets (extruded sheet
products) have the same problems as mentioned above.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] One object of the present invention is to overcome the
disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a biodegradable
composition, especially a biodegradable composition for the
preparation of tableware, drink containers, mulching films and
packages.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
method for preparing the biodegradable composition, especially a
method for preparing the biodegradable composition for the
preparation of tableware, drink containers, mulching films and
packages.
THE BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0007] FIG. 1 shows the flow chart of the method of the present
invention for preparing the biodegradable composition for the
preparation of tableware, drink containers, mulching films and
packages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, it provides a
biodegradable composition for the preparation of tableware, drink
containers, mulching films and packages, which comprises:
[0009] 2-6% by weight of starch;
[0010] 35-45% by weight of plant powders;
[0011] 20-30% by weight of calcium carbonate;
[0012] 2-7% by weight of sorbital;
[0013] 7-13% by weight of polypropene;
[0014] 2-5% by weight of polyethylene;
[0015] 2-6% by weight of coupling agent;
[0016] 1-2% by weight of defoamer;
[0017] 2-5% by weight of stearic acid;
[0018] 2-6% by weight of stearate;
[0019] 3-6% by weight of glycerine; and
[0020] 60-100 ppm photosensitizer.
[0021] According to another aspect of the present invention, it
provides a method for preparing the biodegradable composition for
the preparation of tableware, drink containers, mulching films and
packages, which comprises:
[0022] (1) treating one or more plant wastes selected from the
group consisting of sugar cane residue, peanut shell, dry pine
needle, rice husk, millet bran and soybean shell in a 0.2-1.0% by
weight of sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid solution for 2-10
hours to degrease and modify and to wash, and then drying the same
to let it have a water content of less than 10%; mixing the
obtained plant wastes with starch, sorbital, polypropene, and
polyethylene, and pulverizing the obtained mixture to obtain a
powder with a particle size of larger than 70 mesh; mixing the
obtained powder with calcium carbonate, stearic acid, stearate,
coupling agent, defoamer, glycerine or epoxidized soybean oil, and
photosensitizer homogeneously;
[0023] (2) blending the mixture obtained in step(1) in a
double-screw extruder at a temperature of 160-180 C to obtain the
composition of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] With the increasing care for the environment, the demand for
biodegradability of plastic articles, such as tableware, drink
containers, mulching films and packages, is higher and higher. The
present invention provides a biodegradable composition for the
preparation of tableware, drink containers, mulching films and
packages, which comprises:
[0025] 2-6% by weight of starch;
[0026] 35-45% by weight of plant powders;
[0027] 20-30% by weight of calcium carbonate;
[0028] 2-7% by weight of sorbital;
[0029] 7-13% by weight of polypropene;
[0030] 2-5% by weight of polyethylene;
[0031] 2-6% by weight of coupling agent;
[0032] 1-2% by weight of defoamer;
[0033] 2-5% by weight of stearic acid;
[0034] 2-6% by weight of stearate;
[0035] 3-6% by weight of glycerine or epoxidized soybean oil;
and
[0036] 60-100 ppm photosensitizer.
[0037] According to the composition of the present invention, it
preferably comprises:
[0038] 3-5% by weight of starch;
[0039] 35-40% by weight of plant powders;
[0040] 20-30% by weight of calcium carbonate;
[0041] 4-6% by weight of sorbital;
[0042] 8-11% by weight of polypropene;
[0043] 3-4% by weight of polyethylene;
[0044] 3-5% by weight of coupling agent;
[0045] 1-2% by weight of defoamer;
[0046] 3-4% by weight of stearic acid;
[0047] 3-5% by weight of stearate;
[0048] 3-5% by weight of glycerine or epoxidized soybean oil;
and
[0049] 60-100 ppm photosensitizer.
[0050] According to the composition of the present invention, it
more preferably comprises 3% by weight of starch; 37% by weight of
plant powders; 25% by weight of calcium carbonate; 5% by weight of
sorbital; 9% by weight of polypropene; 3% by weight of
polyethylene; 5% by weight of coupling agent; 4% by weight of
stearic acid; 4% by weight of stearate; 1% by weight of defoamer;
4% by weight of glycerine and 60 ppm photo sensitizer.
[0051] According to the composition of the present invention, the
starch includes corn starch, potato starch, ipomoea batatas starch,
cassava starch and their modified starch with a grain size of
larger than 70 mesh.
[0052] According to the composition of the present invention, the
plant powder is the powder of one or more plants in sugar cane
residue, peanut shell, dry pine needle, rice husk, millet bran and
soybean shell.
[0053] According to the composition of the present invention, the
calcium carbonate is light or heavy calcium carbonate with a grain
size of larger than 70 mesh.
[0054] According to the composition of the present invention, the
coupling agent is that known by the skilled person in the art, and
is preferably silane.
[0055] According to the composition of the present invention, the
photosensitizer is that known by the skilled person in the art, and
is preferably benzophenone.
[0056] According to the composition of the present invention, the
defoamers are those known by the skilled person in the art, and is
preferably emulsified silicone oil.
[0057] According to the composition of the present invention, the
stearate is ferrite stearate, magnesium stearate or calcium
stearate, and is preferably ferrite stearate.
[0058] According to another aspect of the invention, there provides
a method for preparing the biodegradable composition for the
preparation of table-ware, mulching film and package, which
comprises:
[0059] (1) treating one or more plant wastes selected from the
group consisting of sugar cane residue, peanut shell, dry pine
needle, rice husk, millet bran and soybean shell in a 0.2-1.0% by
weight of sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid solution for 2-10
hours to degrease and modify and to wash, and then drying the same
to let it have a water content of less than 10%; mixing the
obtained plant wastes with starch, sorbital, polypropene, and
polyethylene, and pulverizing the obtained mixture to obtain a
powder with a particle size of larger than 70 mesh; mixing the
obtained powder with calcium carbonate, stearic acid, stearate,
coupling agent, defoamer, glycerine or epoxidized soybean oil, and
photosensitizer homogeneously;
[0060] (2) blending the mixture obtained in step(1) in a
double-screw extruder at a temperature of 160-180 C to obtain the
composition of the present invention.
[0061] According to the method of the present invention, the starch
includes corn starch, potato starch, ipomoea batatas starch,
cassava starch and their modified starch with a grain size of
larger than 70 mesh.
[0062] According to the method of the present invention, the plant
powder is the powder of one or more plants in sugar cane residue,
peanut shell, dry pine needle, rice husk, millet bran and soybean
shell.
[0063] According to the method of the present invention, the
calcium carbonate is light or heavy calcium carbonate with a grain
size of larger than 70 mesh.
[0064] According to the method of the present invention, the
coupling agent is that known by the skilled person in the art, and
is preferably silane.
[0065] According to the method of the present invention, the
photosensitizer is that known by the skilled person in the art, and
is preferably benzophenone.
[0066] According to the method of the present invention, the
defoamers are those known by the skilled person in the art, and is
preferably emulsified silicone oil.
[0067] According to the method of the present invention, the
stearate is ferrite stearate, magnesium stearate or calcium
stearate, and preferably ferrite stearate.
[0068] The composition of the present invention can be widely used
in various plastic articles, such as plastic film, foamed plastic
articles(for example, package materials, etc), plastic sheets, the
tableware and drink containers for snack foods and so on. When it
is used in different kinds of plastic articles, the dosage and the
selection of other kinds of materials are known to the skilled in
the art. For example, when it is used to prepare plastic films such
as agricultural film or package, the plastic ingredient is usually
polyethylene. The ratio of plastic ingredient and composition of
the present invention can vary between 30.about.70:70.about.30 by
weight according to the requirement of the final product.
Similarly, when it is used to prepare extruded sheets, foamed
plastic articles and the tableware and drink containers for snack
foods, the plastic ingredient is usually polypropylene. The ratio
of plastic ingredient and composition of the present invention can
vary between 30.about.70:70.about.30 by weight according to the
requirement of the final product.
[0069] The composition of the present invention can excellently
improve the biodegradability of plastic articles. The final product
prepared with the composition and plastic ingredient such as
polyethylene and polypropylene, for example, plastic films such as
agricultural film or package, extruded sheets, foamed plastic
articles, and the tableware and drink containers for snack foods,
can be fully biodegraded in 4-5 month under the natural
conditions.
[0070] The method and device to prepare the final product, which is
prepared with the composition and plastic ingredient such as
polyethylene and polypropylene, are well known to the skilled in
the art and not described in detail.
[0071] The present invention will be described in further detail
with the following examples, which should not be taken as the
limitation of the invention. If it is not specified clearly, the
dosages of the ingredients are by weight.
EXAMPLES1
[0072] FIG. 1 shown the flow chart of the procedures for preparing
the biodegradable composition for the preparation of table-ware,
drink containers, mulching film and package of the present
invention.
[0073] Sugar cane residue was soaked in a 0.8% by weight of
sulfuric acid solution for 5 hours. The mixture was filtered to
obtain a processed sugar cane residue, and then was dried to have a
water content of less than 10% by weight. The mixture of 37 parts
by weight of the obtained sugar cane residue, 3 parts by weight of
starch, 25 parts by weight of light calcium carbonate, 5 parts by
weight of sorbitol, 3 parts by weight of polyethylene, and 9 parts
by weight of polypropene was pulverized in a pulverizer to obtain a
powder of the mixture having a grain size of larger than 70
mesh.
[0074] The powder of the mixture as obtained above was mixed with 4
parts by weight of the glycerine, 1 parts by weight of emulsified
silane oil, 5 parts by weight of silane, 4 parts by weight of
stearic acid, 4 parts by weight of ferrite stearate, and 60 ppm
benzophenone homogeneously to obtain a mixture of the same. The
obtained mixture was blended and extruded and pelleted in a
double-screw extruder at a temperature of 170 C to obtain a
concentrate of the composition of the present invention. The
obtained concentrate was mixed with polypropene at a weight ratio
of 500:50 homogeneously, and the mixture was molded in a mould for
the preparation of table-ware. After being kept at a temperature of
35 C in the mould for 2 hours, a table-ware having good
biodegradability was obtained.
[0075] The table-ware obtained above could be fully biodegraded in
4-5 month under the natural conditions.
EXAMPLES 2-5
[0076] In a similar manner as described in Example 1, the
biodegradable compositions for the preparation of table-ware,
mulching film and package of the present invention were prepared.
The contents of the raw materials in theses examples were listed in
the following Table.
1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Example 5 Starch 3 3 3 3 Sorbitol 4
4 5 4 Sugar cane residue 15 -- -- 13 powder Peanut shell powder 18
15 -- -- Powder of dry pine -- 18 -- -- needle Millet bran powder 5
4 15 -- Soybean shell powder -- -- 10 10 Rice husk powder -- -- 13
15 Light calcium carbonate 27 27 -- -- Heavy calcium carbonate --
-- 26 26 Stearic acid 3 4 3 4 Ferrite stearate 4 5 4 5 Polyethylene
3 3 4 3 Polypropene 9 8 8 9 Glycerine 4 -- -- 4 epoxidized soybean
oil -- 4 4 -- Silane 4 4 4 3 Emulsified silicon oil 1 1 1 1
benzophenone 60 ppm 60 ppm 60 ppm 60 ppm
[0077] The compositions obtained in Examples 2-5 were mixed with
polypropene or polyethylene respectively, and the obtained mixtures
were used to prepare table-ware, mulching film and package by the
technology known by the person skilled in the art,
respectively.
[0078] The table-ware, drink containers, mulching film and package
obtained above could be fully biodegraded in 4-5 month under the
natural conditions.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0079] The composition of the present invention could be used to
prepare various plastic articles, for example, to prepare various
table-wares, snack containers, agricultural films, packages,
extruded sheets and plastic packages. These articles could be fully
biodegraded in 4-5 month under the natural conditions. Therefore,
the environment pollution by light plastic articles could be
eliminated or greatly alleviated.
* * * * *