Here is an oil derived plastic that actually dissolves in water, is biodegradable and has been certified compostable. Interesting stuff.
The following is a collection of information that really needs to be properly collated.
Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH, PVA, or PVAl) is a water-soluble synthetic polymer. It has the idealized formula [CH2CH(OH)]n. It is used in papermaking, textiles, and a variety of coatings. It is white (colourless) and odorless. It is sometimes supplied as beads or as solutions in water.[2] wikkipedia
PVA is produced through multiple chemical reactions. However, the starting compound is ethylene gas. So, where does ethylene gas come from? Well it is actually produced by some plants when their fruit ripens. It can also be produced from ethanol. These methods are just too expensive for commercial production. So, it’s made from you guessed it oil. However, it is able to be broken down by some types of bacteria making it biodegradable.
This is to confirm that Flushpuppies pet-waste bags are produced by BPI-approved manufacturers from BPI-certified materials. These products are authorized to carry the BPI Compostable Logo (shown on the right) because they meet all of the requirements
of ASTM D6400 or ASTM D6868: they will disintegrate and biodegrade swiftly and safely in a professionally managed composting facility and not leave behind any non-compostable residues. http://flushpuppies.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2014-New-BPI-letter-Flush-Puppies.pdf
PVA films are used for packages that release their contents upon contacting water. Some brands of sanitizers, dyes, and detergents are packaged in dissolving plastic bags. PVA film has recently found a new use in agriculture. At high concentrations, some pesticides and herbicides can be toxic to humans. Farmers typically purchase concentrated chemicals, then mix them with water to prepare the dilute solutions that are applied to crops. Powdered insecticides and herbicides prepackaged in PVA bags are simply dropped into a container of water, and the farmer is never exposed to the powder. http://www.borlik.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Dissolving-Plastic.pdf
Uses
Polyvinyl alcohol laundry bags are used in hospitals to minimize the contact hospital workers have with contaminated clothing and bedding. Dirty items are put into these special bags, which are then placed directly into the washing machine. Because polyvinyl alcohol is soluble in water, the bags dissolve and are washed down the drain with the dirty water. At the completion of the washing cycle, the clean clothes are removed from the washing machine
This was taken from a website selling the product.
Environmental Friendly characteristic
It has no any bad effect on environment. Once PVA is dissolved in water, specific microorganism will cause it to degrade. When treated with activated sludge, solutions of PVA will be decomposed into water and carbon dioxide.
Water solubility
1.Solubility is related to PVA film’s thickness and temperature. According the time of dissolving, the film has three types, quick, middle, difficult, all depend on its thickness and water temperature. Thicker film makes slow dissolving, high temperature makes fast dissolving.
Water soluble pva film can prevent operators from contacting toxic materials directly.It is safer and more convenient.
Water content
Water content of the water-soluble PVA film can change with environmental humidity. The water-soluble PVA films are usually sealed with the PE film to keep its water content invariable. After the water-soluble PVA films is taken out of the PE film, water content can vary from environmental humidity, whose property also varies with it.
Good gas barrier properties
Water-soluble PVA film has an excellent gas barrier to oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, helium, argon, carbonic acid gas and so on when the humidity is low, but it permit moisture and NH 3 to penetrate . Moreover, it has an excellent fragrance preservation of the contents and can keep products moisture and fresh as well.
Good antistatic properties
Because water-soluble film has a lot of hydroxyl groups in molecule, it does not take charges. It is different from the film that is made from the other synthetic resins and it has the same antistatic properties as cellophane. If PVA film is used for product packing, it could keep products out of dust.
Good printability
Water-soluble PVA film has the h3 polarity and the excellent printability so as to gravure print is beautifully completed without spark-treatment. Presently it has been widely used in the field of special printing, for example, water transfer printing.
Strength and Weathering resistance
PVA film has good tenacity, biaxial tension-strength and anti-tearing strength that ranks high among all kinds of films, flexing resistance is 10 times to other films. It has excellent Weathering resistance and service life is very long.
Good heat sealability and adhesiveness
Water-soluble PVA film has an excellent gas barrier to oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, helium, argon, carbonic acid gas and so on when the humidity is low, but it permit moisture and NH 3 to penetrate . Moreover, it has an excellent fragrance preservation of the contents and can keep products moisture and fresh as well.
Resistance to oil and chemicals
The Water-soluble PVA film has the good characteristic to resist the oils and fats such as animal oils, vegetable oils, mineral oils, fats, organic solvents and the hydrocarbons to penetrate. However, it can be affected by h3 acid, h3 base, chlorine free radical and some special chemical which can react with PVA such as borax, boracic acid and coloring matter and so on, so it isn’t fit for packing the above things.