Our Work
Case study
Formulating a biodegradable alternative to the traditional polyacrylate superabsorber used in diapers and hygiene products.
​Each year, over 30 billion diapers are disposed of in North American landfills, with virtually no options for recycling or composting. A leading baby diaper brand partnered with us to develop biodegradable alternatives to the various polymers used in diapers. We began by creating the world’s first fully biodegradable sodium polyacrylate superabsorbent polymer.
Client:
Confidential
Services:
Formulation Development
Biodegradation Testing​
The Results
Sodium polyacrylate is a dry powder that transforms into a gel by absorbing liquid. By blending in a small amount of EcoPure® powder, we ensure consistent contact between the materials as the gel forms. Under the right conditions this formulation promotes biofilm development within the gel matrix, effectively triggering the biodegradation process.
This approach requires no changes to the chemical composition or polymerization process of the sodium polyacrylate, making it an easy-to-implement and scalable solution.
Biodegradation
A 99:1 blend of sodium polyacrylate and EcoPure® achieved 89.25% biodegradation in 315 days.
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The material was tested by a 3rd party laboratory to ASTM D5511 standards for plastic biodegradation.
Biofilm Formation
Microscopic imagery shows colonization by bacteria on the surface of the Sodium polyacrylate crystals.
