ACCELERATING BIODEGRADATION

The process of biodegradation happens naturally over time. Depending on the material, the timeline to full degradation can vary. With plastics, this process usually takes hundreds to thousands of years to complete, if ever, because of the strong polymers that make up the chemical structure of plastics.

However, with Worry Free Plastics’ organic plastic nano-enhanced biodegradation technology, the process is dramatically accelerated and is a process of consumption and conversion, not break-down, so there are never any microplastics. Worry Free Plastics treated polymers complete the accelerated biodegradation* process via a 4-phase process.

1. Aerobic Phase: 

In this phase, the enzymes and decomposition chemicals act as catalysts for the biofilm coating the plastic. During this time, aerobic microbes are becoming established and moisture is building up in the refuse. Standard plastic moisture absorption capability is relatively small, but the agent causes further swelling, weakening the polymer bonds. This creates molecular spaces for microbial growth, which begins the aerobic degradation process in which oxygen is converted to CO2.

2. Anaerobic, Non-Methanogenic Phase:

After oxygen concentrations have declined sufficiently, the anaerobic processes begin. During the initial stage (hydrolysis), the microbe colonies eat the particulates, and through an enzymatic process, reduce large polymers into simpler 

monomers. The organic agent causes additional swelling and opening of the polymer chain and increased quorum sensing. This further excites the microbes to increase their colonization and consumption of the polymer chain.  As time progresses, acidogenesis occurs where the simple monomers are converted into fatty acids. CO2 production occurs rapidly at this stage.

3. Anaerobic, Methanogenic Unsteady Phase:

The microbe colonies continue to grow, eating away at the polymer chain and creating increasingly larger molecular spaces. During this phase acetogenesis occurs, converting fatty acids into acetic acid, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen. As this process continues, CO2 rates decline and hydrogen production eventually ceases.

4. Anaerobic, Methanogenic Steady Phase:

The final stage of decomposition involves methanogenesis. As colonies of microbes continue to eat away at the remaining surface of the polymer, acetates are converted into methane and carbon dioxide, and hydrogen is consumed. The process continues until the remaining element is humus. This highly nutritional soil creates an improved environment for the microbes and enhances the final stage of decomposition.