Utilization of fine mineral matter in the conversion of non-biodegradable plastic and in remediation of soils polluted with non-biodegradable plastic
AssigneeRadical Plastics, Inc.
InventorYelena Kann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosed invention describes a novel approach to the utilization of the fine mineral matter derived from coal and/or coal refuse (a by-product of coal refining) to convert a non-biodegradable plastic into a biodegradable plastic. The fine mineral matter could also be based on volcanic basalt, glacial rock dust deposits, iron potassium silicate and other sea shore mined deposits. The conversion of the non-biodegradable plastic into biodegradable plastic in soil further increases nutrients availability in soil with the transition metals released as a result of biodegradation of the biodegradable plastic.
Claims20
A biodegradable plastic composition comprising a product of:
- a non-biodegradable plastic-based product;
- and
- an amount of carbon-free fine mineral matter derived from coal and/or mined from natural resources including volcanic basalt, glacial rock dust deposits, iron potassium silicate and/or sea shore deposits, with particle sizes ranging from less than about 50 μm to about 2 μm, forming a biodegradable plastic-based product.
A method of converting a non-biodegradable plastic into a biodegradable plastic-based product, the method comprising:
- obtaining an amount of carbon-free fine mineral matter derived from coal and/or mined from natural resources including volcanic basalt, glacial rock dust deposits, iron potassium silicate and/or sea shore deposits with particle sizes ranging from less than about 50 μm to about 2 μm;
- and
- melt blending, dry blending, or compounding the fine mineral matter with the non-biodegradable plastic to form the biodegradable plastic-based product.
A biodegradable polyolefin composition comprising a product of:
- a non-biodegradable polyolefin-based product and an amount of carbon-free fine mineral matter derived from coal and/or mined from natural resources including volcanic basalt, glacial rock dust deposits, iron potassium silicate and/or sea shore deposits, with particle sizes ranging from less than about 50 μm to about 2 μm, forming a biodegradable polyolefin-based product,
- wherein the biodegradable polyolefin-based product includes at least one additive selected from antioxidants, pigments, IR absorbers, lubricants, unsaturated organic compounds, substituted benzophenones, peroxides, biodegradable plasticizers, waxes, UV and thermal stabilizers, biodegradable polymers and oligomers, or combinations thereof, and
- wherein the antioxidants are used to inhibit oxidative degradation of plastics.
A method of converting a non-biodegradable polyolefin plastic into a biodegradable polyolefin-based product, comprising:
- obtaining an amount of carbon-free fine mineral matter derived from coal and/or mined from natural resources including volcanic basalt, glacial rock dust deposits, iron potassium silicate and/or sea shore deposits with particle sizes ranging from less than about 50 μm to about 2 μm;
- and
- melt blending, dry blending, or compounding the fine mineral matter with the non-biodegradable plastic to form the biodegradable polyolefin-based product,
- wherein the biodegradable polyolefin-based product includes at least one additive selected from antioxidants, pigments, IR absorbers, lubricants, unsaturated organic compounds, substituted benzophenones, peroxides, biodegradable plasticizers, waxes, UV and thermal stabilizers, biodegradable polymers and oligomers, or combinations thereof, and
- wherein the antioxidants are used to inhibit oxidative degradation of plastics.
A method of converting a non-biodegradable polyolefin plastic into a biodegradable polyolefin-based product, comprising:
- obtaining an amount of carbon-free fine mineral matter derived from coal and/or mined from natural resources including volcanic basalt, glacial rock dust deposits, iron potassium silicate and/or sea shore deposits with particle sizes ranging from less than about 50 μm to about 2 μm;
- and
- melt blending, dry blending, or compounding the fine mineral matter with the non-biodegradable plastic to form the biodegradable polyolefin-based product,
- wherein the non-biodegradable polyolefin plastic is a hydrocarbon based polymer selected from the list consisting of homopolymers or copolymers or mixtures of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polymethylpentene, polyisobutylene, ethylene propylene copolymers, ethylene propylene rubber, ethylene propylene diene copolymers, cyclic olefin copolymers, cyclic olefin polymers, branched polyethylene copolymers, where the branched chains are of typical alkenes, cross linked polyolefins, ethylene onterpolymers containing carbon monoxide as a comonomer, halogenated polyolefins, and chlorosulfonated polyethylene.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.