11.05.

2017

Aerobic biodegradation of textiles

Performance Days - Focus Topic: Biodegradable - Back to Nature

B.Eng. Christin Glöckner

COMPETENCE IN TEXTILES

Activities of the Hohenstein Institute

Independent institute Non-profit research institute Academy

for testing & certification, Public-funded research for seminars, training and
consulting, inspections contract research education

1
 11.05.2017

The Hohenstein Institute

Customer support worldwide

Over 860 employees worldwide – about 560 employees in the German headquarter

Asia
• Bangladesh (2x)
• Cambodia
• China (2x)
America • Hong Kong
• Brazil • India (4x)
• Colombia • Indonesia
• Dom. Republic • Laos
• Ecuador EMEA • Myanmar
• El Salvador • Belarus • Morocco • Pakistan
• Guatemala • Bulgaria • Romania • Sri Lanka
• Honduras • Ethiopia • Russia • Syria
• Mexico • Hungary • Tanzania • Thailand
• Peru • Lithuania • Turkey • Uzbekistan
• USA • Mauritius • UK • Vietnam

2
 11.05.2017

Core competencies of the Hohenstein Institute

solarseven/shutterstock.com Matej Kastelic;filmfoto/shutterstock.com

1 2 3
Research & Development Testing, Certification Information, Support &
& Evaluation Training

filmfoto/shutterstock.com
solarseven/shutterstock.com nmedia/shutterstock.com

William-Küster-Institut for Hygiene,

Environment & Medicine

3
 11.05.2017

STRUCTURE
24 employees: medical experts, micro
and molecular biologists, chemists,
agricultural biologists, textile
scientists

Research: application-focused product

development, publicly funded and
contract research

Services: Accredited services –

tailor-made tests – field studies

We are interested in interactions

Product People

4
 11.05.2017

We are interested in interactions

Product Environment

Testing Developing Researching

Contract research

Publicly funded research

5
 11.05.2017

Eco-efficiency

Human
needs
Economic
value

Ressource
intensity Environmental
Impact

Lifecycle of the „textile chain“

Distribution Retail

Manufacture Usage

Fiber production Disposal

Return

6
 11.05.2017

Application areas

Fiber/Yarns Fabrics Clothes

End-of-Lifecycle

Thermal Composting Recycling

7
 11.05.2017

Degradation of textiles in soil

Life cycle and ecological assessment

Definition „biodegradable“

„A substance or a compound is biodegradable, if it can be

decomposed by the action of microorganisms.“

Angelidaki, Sanders in "Assessment of the anaerobic biodegradability of macropollutants." Re/Views in

Environmental Science & Bio/Technology 3.2, S. 117-129, 2004

8
 11.05.2017

Composting vs. soil buriel

By the example of standard DIN EN 13432 - Requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and
biodegradation
Hohenstein DIN EN 13432
Conditions standard soil compost (active slurry)
Samples fiber, yarn, textile fabrics, ready-made textiles packaging
Conditions laboratory/outdoor MODA-analyser/composting plant
pH value pH <7 pH >7
Temperature 25-27 °C 38-62 °C
Water content 70 % 51 %
Time 24-48 weeks 15-45 weeks
Degradation loss of mass % mg CO2
Control cotton PLA
agronomic test agronomic test
ecotoxicity heavy metals content
heavy metals content

Degradation of textiles in soil

Following principles of

EN ISO 11721-1: 2001/04 Textiles: Determining resistance to

microorganisms of textiles containing cellulose
Pfad+Dateiname / 14.05.2013 / © Hohenstein Institute

EN ISO 846: 1997/06: Evaluation of the action of microorganisms

on plastics

DIN EN 13432: 2000/12: Packaging - Requirements for packaging

recoverable through composting and biodegradation
18

9
 11.05.2017

External Influence

Substrate Mikroorganism Conditions

„Internal“ Influence

Material/Mixture Construction Finishing

10
 11.05.2017

Degradation of textiles in soil

Massloss [%]

Time [d]

21

Hohenstein test conditions

1) Laboratory decomposition

Standardized:
• microbiological soil
composition
• Sample extraction
• Examination after
several weeks in soil

11
 11.05.2017

Hohenstein test conditions

2) Outdoor decomposition

• Realistic: Proof of
sustainable discharge
• Neutral comparison
• Recorded climate
changes e.g. rain,
freeze

Biodegradable and biological safe textiles

• Ecotoxicology
evaluation

• Biological
safe textiles

24

12
 11.05.2017

Degradation of textiles in soil

http://www.3sat.de/mediathek/?mode=play&obj=51576
Pfad+Dateiname / 14.05.2013 / © Hohenstein Institute

25

Why not a standard Test?

Research &
Development

26

13
 11.05.2017

Contrary - Resistance

DIN EN ISO 12225: 2000

Method for determining the
microbiological resistance by a soil burial test

Recyclingprocess

Carbon-Waste

Effective Fiber-
Reinforce-Separation

Close the loop

14
 11.05.2017

Biotechnological recycling of CFR

Mikroorganisms and
enzymes break down the
synthetic reinforcement

Controllable degradation
under defined conditions

Biotechnological alginate production

Natural products from bacteria – adjustment of material properties from
the very beginning!
folien/xxx.ppt/aj Folien Nr. 30; 11.05.2017 © Hohenstein Institute

Azotobacter vinelandii

Genetic Culture, Isolation, Demonstrators

Fiber production Performance
modification fermentation purification

15
 11.05.2017

Thank you for your

kind attention!

Christin Glöckner
E-Mail: C.Gloeckner@hohenstein.de
Web: www.hohenstein.de

16