Number
316-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Manufacture of rubber products
Manufacture of plastics products, including compounding and conversion
Function
Other
Process
Other
Product category
Processing aids such as pH-regulators, flocculants, percipitant, neutalization agents
Application
Alternative to synthetic plastics
Abstract
Production of bioplastics based on polysaccharides (chitosan, starch and cellulose) for industrial, agricultural and medical applications can replace petroleum based plastics that are not biodegradable and use resources that are not easily renewable.
Substituted substances
Polystyrene
CAS No. 9003-53-6 EC No. 500-008-9 Index No.
Chemical group
Polymers
Alternative Substances
Chitosan
CAS No. 9012-76-4 EC No. Index No.
Chemical group
Biopolymers
Starch
CAS No. 9005-25-8 EC No. 232-679-6 Index No.
Chemical group
Carbohydrates
Cellulose
CAS No. 9004-34-6 EC No. 232-674-9 Index No.
Chemical group
Carbohydrates
Reliability of information
Internet information: data are from an internet document and only a basic and partial evaluation could be performed
Hazard Assessment
Substance to be substituted: Polystyrene is not listed in the SUBSPORTplus Database and has no harmonised classification according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation). Alternative substance: Chitosan has no harmonised classification according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation) and is not listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORTplus Screening Criteria (SDSC).It is obtained from biological sources mainly resulted as waste in the processing of shrimps. Starch and cellulose are obtained from natural sources and are generally considered safe.
Description of Substitution
Chitosan is a polymer obtained from chitin, a natural biopolymers, such as cellulose and starch. Chitin is present in certain crustaceans and insects, as well as in the cell of fungi. Economical quantities are produced from shell material from the processing of crabs, prawns and shrimps. Chitosan is already used internationally in various applications, such as drinking and waste water treatment, separation of oil-water-mix, heavy metal separation etc. Being a cationic polymer chitosan is suitable for the flocculation of micro-organisms with anionic surface charge, therefore also for municipal sludge, preferable for activated sludge thickening. According to the producer the advantages of chitosan in this application are: •biodegradable, non-toxic (water hazard classification 0 according to German classification) •a good and fast dewatering of sludge •a higher dry matter content and •a highly reduced adhesive effect on filter tissues. •recycling of sludge is possible. The disadvantages are a higher price than for polyacrylamide and a reduced stability of the flock for sludge dewatering in decanters. Work is carried on to improve stability and reduce costs by combining chitosan to other bio copolymers.
Case/substitution evaluation
The substitution avoids the use of petroleum based plastics like polystyrene that is poorly biodegradable and is made from monomers that may cause cancer.
State of implementation
In use
Date and place of implementation
Germany
Availability ofAlternative
Alternative available on the market
Producer/Provider
Type of information supplier
Producer / distributor
Contact
Further information
Chitosan MSDS from Sigma Aldrich
Cellulose MSDS from Sigma Aldrich
Starch MSDS from Sigma Aldrich
Publication source: author, company, institute, year
The presentation is based on the description published by the producer BioLog Heppe GmbH on its website.
Publication source
Type of publication and availability
http://www.biolog-heppe.de/engl/Products/Bioplastics/bioplastics.html
Date, reviewed
November 26, 2021