Everything you need to know

BFA accelerates the bioconversion of treated plastics in microbe-rich environments. Plastics treated with BFA have unlimited shelf life and are completely non-toxic. We discovered an organic compound within crude oil that is burned out during the cracking process that is synthesized with nutrients and then grafted onto the plastic polymer chain. Adding BFA to a petroleum-based resin attracts microbes to the product allowing them to control their pH level and become quorum sensing and colonize on the surface of the plastic. Once the microbes have colonized on the plastic they secrete acids that break down the polymer chain. Microbes utilize the carbon backbone of the polymer chain as an energy source. The difference between BFA treated plastic and traditional plastic is that BFA creates an opportunity for microbes to utilize plastic as food.

Using the BFA in the manufacturing process is easy to do and does not require equipment modification. The BFA is added via a standard commercial gravimetric hopper just as you would add a colorant into the extruder feed throat. Our products are usually loaded at 0.5%–2% by weight.

There are no noticeable changes to the physical characteristics of plastic such as tensile strength, glass temperature, melting temp, transition rates, etc. Some of these values are identified in the TDS (Technical Data Sheet). We encourage customers to test the performance of BFA combined with specific materials.

No. Tensile strength and the physical properties are maintained even in elevated temperatures. Temperatures that exceed the normal operating range for each specific resin would experience the same loss of properties as the standard plastic.

No, BFA products do not have a limited shelf life.

BFA treated products must be disposed of or kept in active microbial environments in order to start bioconversion. Most warehouse and retail environments do not contain the microbes needed for regeneration.

Always make sure to seal unused portions of the BFA due to its slightly hygroscopic nature. It is also a good idea to rotate the lot every six months to ensure good quality control. Do not run the additive at over 600°F as this has not been tested and the results cannot be guaranteed.

BFA are not toxic and are safe for use in food-contact applications. BFA has been independently tested for toxicity and has been certified as FDA compliant.

Keller and Heckman, an internationally recognized law firm that specializes in regulatory affairs, has analyzed BFA and determined that it is safe for use in food contact applications. K&H has issued letters validating the safety of BFA when in contact with food.

BFA do not contain any compounds that would be considered heavy metals, light metals or metal ions. BFA are a combination of true organic compounds coming from oil and other nutrients found in the environment.

No. All of the organic compounds contained in BFA are considered safe for food contact and have no known adverse health effects. The compounds are also not found on the toxic and potentially harmful substance list of CA Prop 65, which identifies certain toxic and potentially harmful substances and describes limitations for their use.

No, BFA are an additive composed of organic compounds that attract microbes when placed into microbe-rich environments. There are no enzymes or microbes within the BFA.

The BFA can be used with virtually any petroleum-based resin.

Yes, however it is recommended to implement quality control to ensure the approved amount of material is being loaded into the resin.

Currently there are no recognized standard certification programs for recyclability. We have provided a number of independent laboratories with samples of plastic made with BFA. These samples were subjected to various testing methods to determine if BFA treated products are suitable for recycling. These tests indicated that BFA do not affect the recyclability of treated products.

The following tests have been performed on PET bottles treated with BFA to verify recyclability (standard tests used as part of the American Post-consumer Recycling Critical Guidance document): Haze and Transmission via ASTM D 1003B, Intrinsic Viscosity via ASTM D 4603, Acetaldehyde via ASTM F 2013, Fluorescence Visual, Visual Black Specks and Gel.