Compostable turf with decomposition inhibitor

Abstract

The invention relates to a completely or partially compostable turf (202, 300) the turf being a completely or partially compostable artificial turf or a hybrid turf (202) comprising a completely or partially compostable hybrid turf support, the turf comprising a decomposition inhibitor, the decomposition inhibitor in the turf being adapted to lose its functionality or leave the turf until a defined period of time has elapsed.

1 . A method of controlling decomposition of an artificial turf installation, the method comprising:
 providing an artificial turf installation including a compostable turf comprising compostable synthetic fibers and a compostable carrier structure,   adding a decomposition inhibitor on the turf, the decomposition inhibitor having a decomposition-inhibiting functionality for a defined period of time reducing decomposition of the compostable turf by microorganisms.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the decomposition-inhibiting functionality of the decomposition inhibitor is designed to expire when the defined period of time has elapsed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the decomposition inhibitor is configured to leave the turf when the defined period of time has elapsed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding a decomposition booster to the turf, the decomposition booster being adapted to compost the turf. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , the decomposition booster being added in temporal proximity to an expiration of the defined period of time. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 prior to adding the decomposition booster removing the compostable turf from the artificial turf installation and dividing the compostable turf into pieces.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compostable turf comprises artificial turf fibers comprising polylactic acid, and a compostable carrier mesh made of fibers derived from plant material, in particular sisal, jute, linen, coconut, or hemp. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compostable turf comprises a backing of natural latex, or starch-based latex, or agar-agar 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the decomposition booster comprises an acidic solution having a pH value below 6, more preferentially below 4.5. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the decomposition booster comprises:
 soil, or one or more strains of isolated soil bacteria, in particular bacteria isolated from compost, in particular hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, in particular one or more bacterial strains selected from the group comprising  Pseudomonas  sp.,  Mucobacterium  sp.,  Corynebacterium  sp.,  Aeromonas  sp.,  Rhodococcus  sp., and  Bacillus  sp.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the decomposition booster comprises enzymes adapted for biodegradation of the compostable turf. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the decomposition inhibitor comprises an antimicrobial substance, including a HALS-light stabilizer or triclosan or a substance having a porous surface structure adapted to impede the growth of microbes by adsorbing the microbes to the porous surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the decomposition inhibitor comprises at least one of a silver compound, an organoiodide compound, and an organobromide compound, including bromides and iodides of alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, or arylalkynyl groups. 
     
     
         14 . An artificial turf comprising:
 compostable synthetic fibers,   a compostable carrier structure, and   a decomposition inhibitor having a decomposition-inhibiting functionality for a defined period of time reducing decomposition of the compostable synthetic fibers and of the compostable carrier structure by microorganisms.   
     
     
         15 . The artificial turf of  claim 14 , wherein the decomposition-inhibiting functionality of the decomposition inhibitor is designed to expire when the defined period of time has elapsed. 
     
     
         16 . The artificial turf of  claim 14 , wherein the decomposition inhibitor is configured to leave the turf when the defined period of time has elapsed. 
     
     
         17 . The artificial turf of  claim 14 , further comprising decomposition booster added to the turf, the decomposition booster being adapted to compost the turf. 
     
     
         18 . The artificial turf of  claim 17 , wherein the decomposition booster is added in temporal proximity to an expiration of the defined period of time. 
     
     
         19 . The artificial turf of  claim 14 , wherein compostable synthetic fibers comprise polylactic acid, and the compostable carrier structure is a mesh structure comprising fibers derived from plant material including sisal, jute, linen, coconut, or hemp. 
     
     
         20 . The artificial turf of  claim 14 , further comprising a backing of natural latex, or starch-based latex, or agar-agar; and
 wherein the decomposition booster comprises at least one of:
 an acidic solution having a pH value below 6, more preferentially below 4.5, or 
 a strain of isolated soil bacteria including bacteria isolated from compost, hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, in particular one or more bacterial strains selected from the group comprising  Pseudomonas  sp.,  Mucobacterium  sp.,  Corynebacterium  sp.,  Aeromonas  sp.,  Rhodococcus  sp., and  Bacillus  sp., or 
 an enzyme adapted for biodegradation of the turf or turf components. 
   
     
     
         21 . The artificial turf of  claim 14 , wherein the decomposition inhibitor comprises an antimicrobial substance, including a HALS-light stabilizer or triclosan or a substance having a porous surface structure adapted to impede the growth of microbes by adsorbing the microbes to the porous surface. 
     
     
         22 . The artificial turf of  claim 14 , wherein the decomposition inhibitor comprises at least one of a silver compound, an organoiodide compound, and an organobromide compound, including bromides and iodides of alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, or arylalkynyl groups.