SUBSTRATE FOR DIFFUSING VOLATILE SUBSTANCES

Abstract

The substrate for diffusing volatile substances comprises a dispersible binder and a biodegradable material, the percentages by weight on the dry state being preferably: dispersible binder: 15-45% and biodegradable material: 55-75%. It may also comprise a biodegradable preservative such as sodium benzoate. It permits to provide a biodegradable substrate to diffuse volatile substances, which has a short biodegradation time.

Claims

1. A substrate for diffusing volatile substances, characterized in that the substrate comprises: a dispersible binder; and a biodegradable material.

2. The substrate for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, wherein the percentages by weight on the dry state are as follows: dispersible binder: 15-45%; and biodegradable material: 55-75%.

3. The substrate for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 2, wherein the percentages by weight on the dry state are as follows: dispersible binder: 20-30%; and biodegradable material: 65-75%.

4. The substrate for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, also comprising a biodegradable preservative.

5. The substrate for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 4, wherein the percentage by weight on dry state of the biodegradable preservative is between 0.1 and 5%, in particular between 0.5 and 1.5%.

6. The substrate for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, wherein the granulometry of the dispersible binder is between 100 and 250 m.

7. The substrate for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 6, wherein the granulometry of the dispersible binder is 180 m.

8. The substrate for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, wherein the granulometry of the biodegradable material is between 0 and 250 m.

9. The substrate for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 8, wherein the granulometry of the biodegradable material is less than 60 m.

10. The substrate for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, wherein the dispersible binder is flour.

11. The substrate for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 1, wherein the biodegradable material is wood.

12. The substrate for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 11, wherein the biodegradable material is wood sawdust.

13. The substrate for diffusing volatile substances according to claim 4, wherein the biodegradable preservative is sodium benzoate.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Therefore, there is a need for a thick, porous substrate that can contain a large amount of volatile substance and still have a short biodegradation time. Ideally, not only the substrate needs to be biodegradable, but also the volatile substance, or at least the residual part of the volatile substance.

[0011] Therefore, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a biodegradable substrate for diffusing volatile substances, having a short biodegradation time.

[0012] With the substrate according to the present invention it is possible to solve said drawbacks, providing other advantages which are described below.

[0013] The substrate for diffusing volatile substances according to the present invention comprises a mixture of different biodegradable ingredients with different granularities and a dispersible binder. The substrate provides a wide range of dimensional and shape possibilities and high compostability characteristics.

[0014] The substrate is made of biodegradable particles and a dispersible binder material, such as flour-like materials, mixed with different granular grade materials, such as wood, e.g. sawdust. The composition is processed with water by conventional processes such as, for example, compression molding or extrusion. After processing, the substrate is dried to a solid state.

[0015] The substrate material in contact with the water present in the composting environments triggers its structural decomposition, eventually breaking the piece into smaller and weaker pieces, which can be easily assimilated by the compost.

[0016] As a result, the contact area between the high-quality granular material and the environment increases, providing more favorable conditions for composting.

[0017] The substrate for diffusing volatile substances according to the present invention, with the aid of a heating element or an air flow, can be labelled as a compostable material.

[0018] According to claim 1, the substrate for diffusing volatile substances according to the present invention comprises: [0019] a dispersible binder; and [0020] a biodegradable material.

[0021] In addition, it may also comprise a biodegradable preservative.

[0022] Advantageously, the percentages by weight in the dry state are as follows: [0023] dispersible binder: 15-45%; [0024] biodegradable material: 55-75%; and [0025] biodegradable preservative: 0.1-5%.

[0026] More preferably, the percentages by weight in the dry state are as follows: [0027] dispersible binder: 20-30%; [0028] biodegradable material: 65-75%; and [0029] biodegradable preservative: 0.5-1.5%.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, the granulometry of the dispersible binder is between 100 and 250 m, such as 180 m, and the granulometry of the biodegradable material is between 0 and 250 m, such as less than 60 m.

[0031] Preferably, the dispersible binder is flour and the biodegradable material is wood, such as wood sawdust.

[0032] In addition, the biodegradable preservative is preferably sodium benzoate.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0033] By way of example, the substrate according to the present invention has the following composition.

TABLE-US-00001 Granulometry (m) Substrate composition Interval Preferential Dispersible binder (flour) 100-250 180 Biodegradable material (wood) 0-250 <60 Biodegradable preservative Water

TABLE-US-00002 % by weight, hydrated % by weight, dry Substrate composition Interval Preferential Interval Preferential Dispersible binder (flour) 5-15% 7-10% 15-45% 20-30% Biodegradable material 15-30% 20-25% 55-75% 65-75% (wood) Biodegradable 0.1-5% 0.5-1% 0.1-5% 0.5-1.5% preservative Water 40-80% 50-70%

TABLE-US-00003 Granulometry % by weight, Substrate range (m) hydrated % by weight, dry composition Interval Preferential Interval Preferential Interval Preferential Dispersible 100-250 180 5-15% 7-10% 15-45% 20-30% binder (flour) Biodegradable 0-250 <60 15-30% 20-25% 55-75% 65-75% material (wood) Biodegradable 0.1-5% 0.5-1% 0.1-5% 0.5-1.5% preservative Water 40-80% 50-70%

[0034] Following the requirements of EN 13432, 90% of the substrate must degrade within 6 months. Therefore, the formulation must be composed of a minimum of 90% biodegradable ingredients.

[0035] Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment, the substrate according to the present invention is disc-shaped, although it may have a different shape, and its thickness varies from 0.1 to 20 mm.

[0036] A non-limiting example of substrate composition is: [0037] Dispersible binder (flour): 25.8% by weight on dry state [0038] Biodegradable material (wood): 73.2% by weight on dry state [0039] Biodegradable preservative (sodium benzoate): 1% by weight on dry state

[0040] Although reference has been made to a specific embodiment of the invention, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the substrate described herein is susceptible to numerous variations and modifications, and that all the details mentioned can be replaced by technically equivalent ones without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.