Columnar Biodegradable Microbial Carriers for Food Waste Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microbial carriers for food waste treatment lose biodegradability and accumulate odor, necessitating frequent replacement and disposal, leading to environmental impact and landfill site challenges.
Innovation Solution
A microbial carrier made from thermoplastic starch and/or aliphatic polyester with a biodegradability of 60% or higher, columnar shape, and specific structural features to enhance biodegradability and reduce waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional carriers (thermoplastic resin, polyolefin, polystyrene) are used, then the carrier provides structural stability and durability, but the carrier becomes non-biodegradable and requires incineration or landfill disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameters of the carrier by using thermoplastic starch and aliphatic polyester instead of conventional thermoplastic resins. This material substitution maintains the structural stability and durability needed for carrier function while introducing biodegradability, allowing the carrier to decompose naturally without requiring incineration or landfill disposal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining thermoplastic starch and aliphatic polyester in specific ratios (thermoplastic starch: 30-70 wt%, aliphatic polyester: 30-70 wt%). This composite approach leverages the structural properties of both materials to ensure carrier durability while achieving biodegradability, resolving the contradiction between reliability and environmental impact.
2Reliability
If carriers are replaced every two years due to biodegradability loss and odor attachment, then the carrier maintains treatment effectiveness, but a large amount of carrier waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the compositional parameters of the carrier by formulating it with biodegradable thermoplastic starch and aliphatic polyester. This change enables the carrier to maintain treatment effectiveness throughout its service life while being designed to biodegrade completely after use, eliminating the need for frequent replacement and preventing carrier waste accumulation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the carrier surface is smooth, then the carrier is easy to manufacture, but the attachment of microorganisms and food waste particles is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating surface irregularities only on the outer surface of the carrier where microorganism and food waste particle attachment is needed. The bulk interior of the carrier maintains its original smooth structure for ease of manufacture. This localized surface modification achieves improved attachment properties without compromising manufacturing simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The carrier eliminates the need for incineration or landfill disposal, significantly reducing environmental impact by ensuring high biodegradability and effective food waste decomposition.
Implementation Method 1
the base resin constituting the microbial carrier comprises thermoplastic starch and/or aliphatic polyester, the microbial carrier has a biodegradability of 60% or higher in a biodegradability test based on JIS K6953
Data Source
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AI summary
A microbial carrier for food waste treatment, wherein the base resin constituting the microbial carrier comprises thermoplastic starch and/or aliphatic polyester, the microbial carrier has a biodegradability of 60% or higher in a biodegradability test based on JIS K6953, and the microbial carrier has a columnar shape.