Biodegradable sterile sampling bag

Abstract

A biodegradable sampling bag for containing samples or the like, comprises a flexible enclosure defining a chamber adapted to contain therein the sample, the flexible enclosure being made of a plastic material, which contains an additive that renders the flexible enclosure biodegradable when exposed for a sufficient period of time to microbial action. The additive is adapted to enable microorganisms to metabolize the molecular structure of said flexible enclosure. The additive is effective in altering the polymer chain of the plastic material to allow microbial action of a suitable environment to colonize in and around the plastic material, whereby microbes can then form a biofilm on a surface of the flexible enclosure and secrete acids which break down the entire polymer chain. The flexible enclosure, when exposed to microbial action, is adapted to withstand biodegradation for a given period of time, typically of at least three months.

1 . A biodegradable sampling bag for containing samples or the like, comprising a flexible enclosure defining a chamber adapted to contain therein the sample, said flexible enclosure being made of a plastic material, said plastic material containing an additive that renders said flexible enclosure biodegradable when exposed for a sufficient period of time to microbial action. 
     
     
         2 . A biodegradable sampling bag as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said additive is adapted to enable microorganisms to metabolize the molecular structure of said flexible enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . A biodegradable sampling bag as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said additive has altered the polymer chain of said plastic material to allow microbial action of a suitable environment to colonize in and around said plastic material, whereby microbes can then form a biofilm on a surface of said flexible enclosure and secrete acids which break down the entire polymer chain. 
     
     
         4 . A biodegradable sampling bag as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the microbial action eventually converts said flexible enclosure into carbon dioxide and water when subjected to aerobic biodegradation, and into carbon dioxide, methane and water when subjected to anaerobic biodegradation. 
     
     
         5 . A biodegradable sampling bag as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said flexible enclosure, when exposed to microbial action, is adapted to withstand biodegradation for a given period of time. 
     
     
         6 . A biodegradable sampling bag as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said given period of time is at least three months. 
     
     
         7 . A biodegradable sampling bag as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said flexible enclosure, when exposed to microbial action, is adapted to biodegrade in nine months to five years. 
     
     
         8 . A biodegradable sampling bag as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said plastic material is Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) sheet material. 
     
     
         9 . A biodegradable sampling bag as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said plastic material is Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) sheet material. 
     
     
         10 . A biodegradable sampling bag as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said plastic material comes in the form of tubing for manufacturing said flexible enclosure. 
     
     
         11 . A biodegradable sampling bag as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said additive is MasterBatch Pellets™. 
     
     
         12 . A biodegradable sampling bag as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said flexible enclosure is sealed except at one portion thereof which comprises bag access means adapted to substantially seal said bag in a first position thereof but also adapted to selectively allow in a second position thereof the sample to be introduced in said chamber when it is desired to use said bag, whereby once in said second position the sample can be received in said bag. 
     
     
         13 . A biodegradable sampling bag as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said access means comprises a detachable tear off strip. 
     
     
         14 . A biodegradable sampling bag as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said strip includes sealing means for sealing said bag in said first position but adapted to be removed from said bag with said detachable strip in said second position thereby opening said bag at said one portion thereof for subsequent receipt of the sample therein. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a biodegradable sampling bag, comprising the steps of:
 a) producing a flexible enclosure from a plastic material containing an additive that renders said flexible enclosure biodegradable when exposed for a sufficient period of time to microbial action; and   b) making a bag from said flexible enclosure, said bag defining a chamber adapted to contain therein a sample.   
     
     
         16 . The use of a plastic material containing an additive for making a biodegradable sampling bag, wherein the plastic material containing said additive is adapted to enable microorganisms to metabolize the molecular structure of said sampling bag and cause said sampling bag to biodegrade, but being adapted, when exposed to microbial action, to sustain biodegradation for a given period of time. 
     
     
         17 . The use of a plastic material containing an additive for making a biodegradable sampling bag as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said given period of time is at least three months.