Biopak Technology, Ltd.

Chronopol, Inc.

Ecopol, LLC

The Goodyear & Tire Rubber Company

Exxon Production Research Company

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Gulf Oil Corporation

The Drackett Company

Cargill Dow Polymers LLC

Other

Idemitsu Petrochemical Co., Ltd.

Richard G Sinclair

Edward S Lipinsky

James D Browning

Richard A Markle

Alex Cheung

Dan W Verser

Kevin H Schilling

Herman P Benecke

Claude E Cooke, Jr

Steven R Erbstoesser

George E Cremeans

Michael M Epstein

Joseph G Santangelo

John H Litchfield

Donald M Bigg

James J Weber

Sylvester Sowell

Donald Bigg

Thomas A Rogers

Billy R Allen

George Joseph Ostapchenko

Richard D Tenaglia

Melville E Hillman

Russell K Smith

Joseph Preston

David L Berry

Wesley M Germon, Jr

The present invention is directed to a method for reducing waste accumulation by using an environmentally degradable disposable material. The disposable material, which includes a hydroxycarboxylic acid-containing polymer, degrades hydrolytically during operative and disposal stages in a controlled manner such that the disposal degradation rate of the material is accelerated relative to the operative degradation rate of the material.

Degradation control of environmentally degradable disposable materials

Compatible polymer compositions and optically clear, degradable films containing from 55 to 90 wt % of a poly(hydroxy acid) polymer composition and from 10 to 45 wt % of one or more compatible thermoplastic polymers are disclosed. The films are prepared by melt processing the materials to obtain uniform composition, and forming the composition into a film of thickness from 0.01 to 2 mm. The films can be used in packaging and conventional applications.

Films containing poly(hydroxy acid)s

Disclosed are degradable materials including molded products, laminates, foams, nonwoven materials, adhesives, coatings and films, and particularly packaging films. The materials are made using polydioxaneone polymers comprising at least two different dioxaneone-based repeating units. Preferred polymers are polydioxanediones. First repeating units have less carbon atoms in constituent groups extending from the polymer backbone than second repeating units. Physical characteristics and degradation of the materials can be varied by varying the choice and/or relative proportions of first and second repeating units in the polydioxaneone polymers. Methods for preparing polydioxaneone polymers that can be used in the manufacture of the materials are also discussed, as are suitable monomers and methods for preparing such monomers.

Degradable polydioxaneone-based materials

Disclosed are degradable materials which-include a nontoxic hydrolytically degradable polymer and nontoxic modifier, wherein the modifier is compatible with the polymer and the modifier is nonvolatile and nonfugitive. Also disclosed are processes for forming the various degradable materials, which include films, molded products, laminates, foams, powders, nonwovens, adhesives and coatings. The disclosed materials and processes are particularly useful for the production of commercial and consumer products in high volumes which are suitable for recycling after use or which are discarded into the environment in large volumes.

Degradable polymer composition

Disclosed are products made of degradable materials which include a hydrolytically degradable polymer. The degradable materials can be internally or externally modified. The internally modified polymer composition has polymers modified by the use of comonomers having a relatively high molecular weight. The externally modified polymer composition includes a modifier, wherein the modifier is compatible with the polymer and the modifier is nontoxic, nonvolatile and nonfugitive. The various degradable materials include films, fibers, extruded and molded products, laminates, foams, powders, nonwovens, adhesives and coatings. The disclosed materials are particularly useful for the production of a variety of products in high volumes which are suitable for recycling after use or which are discarded into the environment in large volumes.

End use applications of biodegradable polymers

Disclosed are degradable materials including molded products, laminates, foams, nonwoven materials, adhesives, coatings and films, and particularly packaging films. The materials are made using polydioxaneone polymers comprising at least two different dioxaneone-based repeating units. Preferred polymers are polydioxanediones. First repeating units have less carbon atoms in constituent groups extending from the polymer backbone than second repeating units. Physical characteristics and degradation of the materials can be varied by varying the choice and/or relative proportions of first and second repeating units in the poldioxaneone polymers. Methods for preparing polydioxaneone polymers that can be used in the manufacture of the materials are also discussed, as are suitable monomers and methods for preparing such monomers.

Disclosed are degradable materials which include a nontoxic hydrolytically degradable polymer and nontoxic modifier, wherein the modifier is compatible with the polymer and the modifier is nonvolatile and nonfugitive. Also disclosed are processes for forming the various degradable materials, which include films, molded products, laminates, foams, powders, nonwovens, adhesives and coatings. The disclosed materials and processes are particularly useful for the production of commercial and consumer products in high volumes which are suitable for recycling after use or which are discarded into the environment in large volumes.

The biodegradable polymer comprises polymerized lactic acid units of the structure: ##STR1## where n is an integer between 450 and 10,000 and the alpha carbon is a mixture of L- and D-configurations with a preponderance of either D- or L-units, wherein the polymer is suitable for replacement of polystyrene; the biodegradable composition also comprises blends of a physical mixture of polymerized lactic acid units of the formula I, where n is an integer between 450 and 10,000 and the alpha carbon is a mixture of L- and D-configurations with a preponderance of either D- or L-units, and a homopolymer of poly(D-lactic acid) or poly(L-lactic acid), and plasticizers that provide unique properties when intimately dispersed.

Biodegradable replacement of crystal polystyrene

The present invention is directed to a method for making lactide from aqueous lactic acid. The invention method comprises converting feed aqueous lactic acid to its vapor phase. The feed vapors then are passed through a reactor maintained at elevated temperature and in which optionally is disposed an alumina catalyst. Withdrawn from the reactor is product lactide, water, and unreacted lactic acid which are subjected to separation for recovery of the lactide product. The separated unreacted lactic acid is eligible for readmission to the process for making additional lactide. This cyclic process embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of passing make-up aqueous lactic acid feed into a vaporization zone along with unreacted aqueous lactic acid filtrate from another step of the process and therein forming aqueous lactic acid feed vapors. The thus-generated vapors that are passed through a vapor phase reaction zone held at elevated temperature for forming lactide therein. Lactide as a solid is separated from unreacted aqueous lactic acid filtrate; and the filtrate is passed into the vaporization zone in the initial step of the process.

Catalytic production of lactide directly from lactic acid

Disclosed is a method for producing cyclic esters by the conversion of hydroxy carboxylic acids and their derivatives to their respective cyclic esters. Such cyclic esters, including lactide or glycolide, are particularly useful for producing polymers which can be used to make biodegradable materials, such as biodegradable packaging material. Various methods of cyclic ester production are disclosed, including liquid phase and vapor phase reactions. Also disclosed are various methods for recovering cyclic esters from product-containing streams.

Method to produce cyclic esters

The present invention is directed to a method for making L-lactide from aqueous L-lactic acid. Aqueous lactic acid feed for present purposes comprehends an aqueous mixture of one or more of L.sub.1 A, L.sub.2 A, and L.sub.3 A, optionally with LD being present. L-lactic acid is the preferred feed configuration for making L-lactide, and is to be understood even though the configuration symbol is not used throughout this application. Aqueous lactic acid feed is treated for removal of water therefrom until a degree of polymerization (DP) not substantially above about 2 is reached. The treatment then is ceased to produce a crude LD product. LD then is separated from the crude LD product. A preferred treatment involves heating the feed at elevated temperature to remove water. LD can be separated from the crude LD product by a variety of techniques to produce an LD-depleted product. This LD-depleted product, optionally augmented with additional aqueous lactic acid and/or water then can be readmitted to the process for making additional lactide. This cyclic or recycle process embodiment of the present invention enables very high lactide conversions to be realized.

Lactide production from dehydration of aqueous lactic acid feed

Growing community of inventors

Columbus, OH, United States of America

Richard G Sinclair