ORGANIC COMPOSITE MATERIAL, METHODS OF OBTAINING THE SAME FROM HETEROGENOUS WASTE, AND USES THEREOF
The present disclosure concerns and organic composite material (OCM), a process for its preparation and its uses, the OCM comprising a blend comprising at least 90 wt % heterogenous organic matter; the OCM being characterized by (i) a carbon footprint of below about 10 KgCO2 eq/Kg as determined according to ISO 14040: 2006; (ii) when it is compounded with polypropylene, a Melt Flow Index (MFI 230° C./2.16 Kg) of more than about 30 g/10 min as determined according to 1801133-1:2011 and biodegradability. Also, the OCM is characterized by a synthetic polymer content of between 0 wt % and 3 wt % and/or no detectable amount of specific synthetic polymers.
1 . An organic composite material (OCM) comprising a blend comprising at least 90 wt % heterogenous organic matter; the OCM being characterized by at least one of the following:
said OCM has a carbon footprint of below about −10 KgCO 2 eq/Kg as determined according to ISO14040: 2006;
when said OCM is compounded with 70 wt % polypropylene (PP) to form an OCM-PP, the OCM-PP has a Melt Flow Index (MFI 230° C./2.16 Kg) of more than about 30 g/10 min as determined according to ISO1133-1:2011;
when said OCM is compounded with 70 wt % polylactic acid (PLA) to form an OCM-PLA, and the OCM-PLA is placed in compost for at least 80 days, the OCM-PLA exhibits at least 90% degradation;
said OCM being further characterized by at least one of
the OCM comprises an amount of synthetic polymers between 0% and 3% out of a total weight of the composite material; and
the OCM comprises no detectable amount of at least one of polyvinylchloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
2 . The OCM of claim 1 , comprising between 0% and 3 wt % synthetic polymers, out of the total weight of said composite material.
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5 . The OCM of claim 1 , characterized by a carbon footprint of less than −14 KgCO 2 eq/Kg.
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7 . The OCM of claim 1 , wherein when compounded with 70 wt % polypropylene (PP) to form an OCM-PP blend, said OCM-PP blend exhibits a melt flow index at a temperature of 230° C. and a standard load of 2.16 Kg of at least 45 g/10 minutes, preferably at least 50 g/10 minutes.
8 . The OCM of claim 1 , exhibiting thermoplastic properties.
9 . The OCM of claim 1 , being biodegradable.
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14 . The OCM of claim 1 , comprising at least 80 wt % cellulose-based material as determined by Thermogravimetric-Differential Scanning Analysis (TG-DSC).
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18 . The OCM of claim 1 , comprising less than 10% inorganic matter.
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23 . The OCM of claim 1 , wherein a sample thereof comprising 30 wt % OCM and 70 wt % polypropylene (PP), that has been subjected to injection molding, exhibits at least one of the following:
tensile modulus of at least at least 1,000 MPa;
tensile stress at yield of at least 12 MPa;
tensile strain at yield of at least 2.2%;
tensile strain at break of at least 3.2%;
notched Izod impact of at least 2.8 KJ/m 2 ;
flexural modulus of at least 1,000 MPa;
flexural stress of at least 20 MPa;
density of at least 0.9 g/cm 3 .
24 . A process for preparing an organic composite material (OCM) comprising a blend of heterogenous organic matter, the process comprises:
a. providing intake material comprising a blend of at least 90 wt % heterogenous organic waste, the intake material being further characterized by at least one of (i) synthetic polymer content between 0 wt % and 3 wt %; and (ii) no detectable amount of at least one of polyvinylchloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET); and
b. subjecting said intake material to high-speed mixing at a temperature of up to about 130° C., a speed of at least about 2,500 rpm, and under vacuum conditions, thereby obtaining the organic composite material.
25 . The process of claim 24 , wherein said intake material is obtained from heterogenous waste, wherein said heterogenous waste is subjected to any one or combination of drying, size reduction, metal removal, synthetic polymer removal.
26 . The process of claim 25 , wherein said synthetic polymers removal comprises subjecting the heterogenous waste, optionally dried and size reduced to NIR separation stage to remove at least one of PVC, PS and/or PET.
27 . The process of claim 24 , wherein said intake material comprises less than 10 wt % moisture.
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29 . The process of claim 24 , wherein said intake material comprises less than 2 wt % synthetic polymers.
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31 . The process of claim 24 , wherein said intake material has an average particle size of less than 40 mm.
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33 . The process of claim 24 , wherein said intake material comprises at least 80 wt % of cellulose-based heterogenous waste.
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36 . The process of claim 24 , wherein said high speed mixing is at a velocity of about 3,000 rpm.
37 . The process of claim 24 , wherein said high speed mixing is under a negative pressure of between about 0.5 Bar and about 0.9 Bar.
38 . The process of claim 24 , wherein said high speed mixing is at a temperature of between about 100° C. and about 120° C.
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40 . An article of manufacture comprising a blend of at least one synthetic polymer and one of:
1) a first organic composite material (OCM), comprising:
a blend comprising at least 90 wt % heterogenous organic matter; the OCM being characterized by at least one of the following:
said OCM has a carbon footprint of below about 10 KgCO2 eg/Kg as determined according to ISO14040: 2006;
when said OCM is compounded with 70 wt % polypropylene (PP) to form an OCM-PP, the OCM-PP has a Melt Flow Index (MFI 230° C./2.16 Kg) of more than about 30 g/10 min as determined according to ISO1133-1:2011;
when said OCM is compounded with 70 wt % polylactic acid (PLA) to form an OCM-PLA, and the OCM-PLA is placed in compost for at least 80 days, the OCM-PLA exhibits at least 90% degradation;
said OCM being further characterized by at least one of:
the OCM comprises an amount of synthetic polymers between 0% and 3% out of a total weight of the composite material; and
the OCM comprises no detectable amount of at least one of polyvinylchloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET); or
2) a second OCM obtained by a method, comprising:
a. providing intake material comprising a blend of at least 90 wt % heterogenous organic waste, the intake material being further characterized by at least one of (i) synthetic polymer content between 0 wt % and 3 wt %; and (ii) no detectable amount of at least one of polyvinylchloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET); and
b. subjecting said intake material to high-speed mixing at a temperature of up to about 130° C., a speed of at least about 2,500 rpm, and under vacuum conditions, thereby obtaining the composite material;
wherein said article of manufacture has a carbon footprint that is lower than the carbon footprint of said at least one synthetic polymer.
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