Liquid composition comprising biological entities and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a new liquid composition comprising biological entities having a polymer-degrading activity, a carrier and a solvent that may be advantageously used for the manufacture of a biodegradable plastic product.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A liquid composition suitable to be incorporated in a partially or totally molten polymer, comprising biological entities having a polymer-degrading activity, a carrier and water, wherein:
 i) the carrier is a polysaccharide selected from starch derivatives, natural gums, marine extracts, microbial polysaccharides and animal polysaccharides, and   ii) the composition comprises, based on the total weight of the composition:
 from 0.01% to 35% by weight of biological entities, 
 from 15% to 95% by weight of water, and 
 from 3% to 80% by weight of carrier. 
   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid composition is in a liquid form at least at ambient temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising based on the total weight of the composition:
 from 0.3% to 30% by weight of biological entities,   from 19% to 85% by weight of the water, and   from 4% to 80% by weight of carrier.   
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising based on the total weight of the composition:
 from 0.3% to 30% by weight of biological entities,   from 19% to 60% by weight of the water, and   from 15% to 70% by weight of carrier.   
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises more than 20% by weight of water, based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises more than 30%, and less than 80%, by weight of water, based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the biological entities are selected from enzymes having a polymer-degrading activity. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the biological entities are selected from enzymes having a polyester-degrading activity. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the biological entities are selected from enzymes having a PLA-degrading activity. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises less than 70% by weight of carrier. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is a natural gum selected from arabic gum, guar gum, tragacanth gum or karaya gum. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising based on the total weight of the composition:
 from 0.01% to 35% of biological entities,   from 30% to 75% of water, and   from 10% to 69.99% of a carrier.   
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising based on the total weight of the composition:
 from 0.01% to 35% of PLA-degrading enzymes,   from 30% to 75% of water, and   from 10% to 69.99% of arabic gum.   
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising based on the total weight of the composition about 50% of water, from 0.01% to 35% of PLA-degrading enzymes, and from 20% to 49.99% of arabic gum. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is a starch derivative. 
     
     
         16 . A plastic article comprising a polymer and the composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the biological entities of the composition are able to degrade said polymer of the plastic article. 
     
     
         17 . A process for preparing a plastic article comprising the steps of:
 a) preparing a masterbatch comprising polymer-degrading biological entities and a first polymer by:   (i) heating said first polymer; and   (ii) introducing from 5% to 50% by weight of the composition according to  claim 1 , based on the total weight of the masterbatch, during heating of the first polymer; and   b) introducing the masterbatch in a polymer-based matrix during production of the plastic article, wherein step a) is performed at a temperature at which the first polymer is in a partially or totally molten state, and step b) is performed at a temperature at which both the first polymer and the polymer of the polymer-based matrix are in a partially or totally molten state and wherein the biological entities of the composition are able to degrade a polymer of the polymer-based matrix.   
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the first polymer is a polymer having a melting temperature below 140° C. and/or a glass transition temperature below 70° C. selected from a polyester, starch, EVA or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the first polymer is selected from PCL, EVA, PBAT, PLA or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A process for the manufacture of a plastic article comprising a step (a) of mixing between 0.01% and 10% by weight of the composition according to  claim 1 , with a least one polymer, wherein the biological entities of the composition are able to degrade said polymer and a step (b) of shaping said mixture of step (a) in a plastic article. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 20 , wherein the step (a) of mixing is performed at a temperature at which the polymer is in a partially or totally molten state. 
     
     
         22 . A process for preparing a masterbatch comprising:
 (i) extruding a first polymer, wherein said first polymer has a melting temperature below 140° C.; and   (ii) introducing the liquid composition of  claim 1  during extrusion of the first polymer.   
     
     
         23 . The process for preparing a masterbatch of  claim 22 , wherein the first polymer is selected from PCL, PBS, PBSA, PBAT, PLA and EVA. 
     
     
         24 . A process for the manufacture of a plastic article containing biological entities comprising successively a step of introducing the liquid composition according to  claim 1  in a first polymer to obtain a mixture, and a step of introducing said mixture in a second polymer different from the first polymer, wherein the first polymer has melting point below 140° C. and the second polymer has a melting point above 140° C. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising based on the total weight of the composition:
 from 20% to 80% by weight of water,   from 0.01% to 30% by weight of PLA-degrading enzymes,   from 10% to 50% by weight of arabic gum,   from 0% to 5% by weight of other components selected from proteins, salts, polyols.   
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising based on the total weight of the composition:
 from 40% to 60% by weight of water,   from 0.01% to 30% by weight of PLA-degrading enzymes,   from 15% to 40% by weight of maltodextrin,   from 0% to 5% of other components selected from proteins, salts, polyols.