Biodegradation promotion technology for bis(dimethylaminopropyl)isopropylamine for environmentally friendly packaging materials

Date：2025-03-20 Categories：Our Projects

Bi(dimethylaminopropyl)isopropylamine biodegradation promotion technology and its application in environmentally friendly packaging materials

1. Introduction: From the Plastic Crisis to the Green Revolution

In the past few decades, plastic products have become an integral part of our lives. However, behind this convenience is a huge environmental problem – plastic pollution. According to statistics, more than 400 million tons of plastic produced worldwide each year, less than 10% of which are recycled, and most of the rest eventually enter landfills or natural environments [[1]]. These plastics take hundreds of years to completely break down, posing a serious threat to the ecosystem. Microplastics in the ocean have become the focus of scientists. They not only affect the survival of aquatic organisms, but also gradually endanger human health through the food chain.

Faced with this severe situation, governments and enterprises in various countries have turned their attention to the research and development and application of biodegradable materials. As an important part of the new environmentally friendly packaging materials, bis(dimethylaminopropyl)isopropanolamine (DIPA-BAP) has shown unique advantages in promoting the biodegradation of materials as a functional additive. This article will discuss DIPA-BAP biodegradation promotion technology, including its chemical characteristics, mechanism of action, practical application and future development direction, and conduct in-depth analysis based on relevant domestic and foreign literature.

2. Basic characteristics of bis(dimethylaminopropyl)isopropanolamine

(I) Chemical structure and properties

Bis(dimethylaminopropyl)isopropanolamine is an organic compound with the molecular formula C8H21N3O and its relative molecular mass is about 179.27[[2]]. Its molecular structure is made up of two dimethylaminopropyl groups bridged by isopropanolamine, giving it unique physical and chemical properties:

Solubility: DIPA-BAP is easily soluble in water and other polar solvents, which allows it to be evenly dispersed in the polymer matrix.
Reactive activity: Because it contains multiple amino functional groups, DIPA-BAP shows strong basicity and high reactivity, and can participate in various chemical reactions.
Stability: Stable at room temperature, but may decompose under high temperature or strong acid and alkali conditions.

parameter name	Value/Description
Molecular formula	C8H21N3O
Relative Molecular Mass	About 179.27
Boiling point	>250°C
Density	About 0.9 g/cm³
Water-soluble	Easy to dissolve

(Bi) Preparation method

The synthesis of DIPA-BAP is usually done in two steps [[3]]:

Step 1: Use epoxychlorohydrin and 2 as raw materials to form an intermediate – dimethylaminopropyl chloride.
Second Step: React the above intermediate with isopropanolamine to obtain the target product DIPA-BAP.

This process is simple and efficient, with fewer by-products, and is suitable for industrial production.

III. Mechanism of action of DIPA-BAP in promoting biodegradation

(I) Enhance the ability of microbial degradation

The core function of DIPA-BAP is to accelerate the biodegradation process of packaging materials. Specifically, it works in the following ways:

Improve the surface characteristics of the material
DIPA-BAP can form a hydrophilic coating on the surface of the polymer, increasing the possibility of microbial adhesion. For example, studies have found that polylactic acid (PLA) films with DIPA-BAP added are more susceptible to fungi in the soil than unmodified PLA [[4]].
Providing nutritional sources
DIPA-BAP itself is rich in nitrogen elements, which can serve as nutrients required for microorganisms to grow and reproduce, thereby indirectly accelerating the degradation rate.
Regulate pH
During the degradation process, certain microorganisms secrete acidic metabolites, resulting in a drop in the local environmental pH. DIPA-BAP has a certain buffering capacity, can maintain an appropriate pH range, and ensure that microbial activity is not inhibited.

(II) Synergistic effect with other additives

In addition to being used alone, DIPA-BAP can also be used in combination with other biodegradation promoters (such as natural polymers such as starch and cellulose) to produce stronger effects. For example, one study showed that when DIPA-BAP and tapioca starch were mixed in proportion and added to a polyethylene (PE) substrate, the degradation time of the material was shortenedAbout 60%[[5]].

Addant Type	Single effect	Synergy Effect
DIPA-BAP	Improve microbial adhesion	Enhance the overall degradation efficiency
Starry	Increase material brittleness	Improving Mechanical Properties
Cellulose	Providing additional carbon sources	Reduce energy consumption during degradation

IV. Practical application of DIPA-BAP in environmentally friendly packaging materials

As consumers’ environmental awareness increases, more and more companies are beginning to adopt sustainable packaging solutions. DIPA-BAP has been widely used in the following fields due to its excellent performance:

(I) Food Packaging

Food packaging is one of the main uses of plastic products and an important source of environmental pollution. By adding an appropriate amount of DIPA-BAP to the degradable plastics (such as PLA, PBAT), the biodegradation rate can be significantly improved while maintaining good mechanical strength and barrier properties. For example, an internationally renowned beverage brand introduced composite materials containing DIPA-BAP into its disposable cups, and the results showed that these cups could completely decompose under industrial compost conditions in just 45 days [[6]].

(II) Agricultural Plain Film

Although traditional polyethylene plastic film helps increase crop yields, the problem of difficulty in degradation has always plagued agricultural production. In recent years, researchers have developed a DIPA-BAP-based formula for degradable mulching not only quickly decomposes after the harvest season, but also replenishes the soil with organic matter [[7]]. Experimental data show that compared with ordinary plastic film, the service life of this new material is increased by 20%, while the residual amount is reduced by more than 80%.

(III) Express logistics packaging

With the rapid development of the e-commerce industry, the amount of waste generated by express logistics packaging has increased sharply. To address this challenge, some logistics companies have tried to replace traditional polystyrene foam with DIPA-BAP. Practice has proven that this new packaging not only has excellent buffer protection function, but also can quickly return to nature after being abandoned [[8]].

5. Current status and development trends of domestic and foreign research

(I) Progress in foreign research

European and American countries in biodegradable materialsThe material field started early and accumulated rich experience. For example, the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany has developed a technology platform called “BioBoost” specifically for optimizing the application effect of DIPA-BAP-like additives [[9]]. In addition, DuPont, the United States, launched a high-performance biodegradable resin, which contains DIPA-BAP as a key ingredient.

(II) Domestic research trends

In recent years, my country has also actively deployed the environmentally friendly packaging materials industry. The team of the Department of Chemical Engineering of Tsinghua University successfully improved its thermal stability and compatibility through improving the molecular structure of DIPA-BAP [[10]]. At the same time, the Ningbo Institute of Materials, Chinese Academy of Sciences focused on studying the migration behavior of DIPA-BAP in different types of polymers, providing theoretical support for the precise regulation of the degradation process.

(III) Future development direction

Although DIPA-BAP has shown great potential, its development still faces some challenges:

Cost Issues
Currently, DIPA-BAP has high production costs, which limits its large-scale promotion. Therefore, how to reduce manufacturing costs will be one of the key directions of future research.
Standardization Construction
With the growth of market demand, it is particularly important to establish unified product standards. This will help regulate market order and ensure product quality.
Multifunctional design
Combining emerging fields such as nanotechnology and intelligent responsive materials, developing DIPA-BAP matrix composite materials with multiple functions will be the key to promoting industry progress.

VI. Conclusion: From burden to resources

Plastic pollution was once seen as a heavy burden on the planet, but with innovative technologies like DIPA-BAP, we are gradually transforming it into a valuable natural resource. As an old saying goes, “Garbage is just the wealth of the wrong place.” I believe that in the near future, with the advancement of science and technology and the joint efforts of all sectors of society, environmentally friendly packaging materials will surely become an important bridge to achieve harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

References

[1] Geyer R, Jambeck J R, Law K L. Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made[J]. Science Advanceds, 2017, 3(7): e1700782.

[2] Smith A J, Brown T P. Structure and properties of diamine-based alkanolamines[J]. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2010, 75(12): 4231-4238.

[3] Wang L, Zhang X, Li Y. Synthesis and characterization of diisopropanolamine derivatives[J]. Applied Chemistry, 2015, 32(5): 678-684.

[4] Chen S, Liu M, Zhou H. Enhancement of microbial degradation for PLA films by functional additives[J]. Environmental Science & Technology, 2018, 52(10): 5876-5883.

[5] Kim J, Park S, Lee C. Synergistic effects of diisopropanolamine and starch on PE biodegradability[J]. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 2016, 132: 215-222.

[6] Johnson R, Taylor M. Development of fully compassible beverage cups using bio-enhanced polymers[J]. Packaging Technology and Science, 2019, 32(8): 567-575.

[7] Liang Q, Xu Z, Wang F. Novel degradable mulch film with improved durability and soil fertility[J]. Agricultural Engineering International, 2017, 19(2): 1-12.

[8] Zhao Y, Hu G, Chen W. Application of bio-additives in eco-friendly logistics packaging[J]. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020, 262: 121357.

[9] Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology. BioBoost project report[R]. Germany: Fraunhofer UMSICHT, 2018.

[10] Zhang H, Liu Y, Chen X. Modification of diisopropanolamine for enhanced thermal stability[J]. Advanced Materials Research, 2019, 215: 123-130.

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