YVONNE MAH
Yvonne Mah, a passionate sustainability change-leader has been in the plastics and chemicals industry over 20 years. She joined BASF as a Graduate Application Development Chemist in the Engineering Plastics area then developed to other roles, technical service and marketing for the Asia-Pacific region. She is a member of the Society of Plastics Engineers and Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and Royal Society of Chemistry.
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BASF Presentation – A Novel Stabilization System for Chlorine Resistant Water Pipes with strong sustainability benefits
As the industry shifts from traditional non-plastic pipe materials to lighter and more energy efficient plastic pipes, the demand for more sustainable solutions continues to increase. While plastic pipes are known to consume less energy during production and emit less CO2 per linear meter than their traditional counterparts, deterioration of the plastic material can result in significant loss of water during transit. Using chlorine-based disinfectants is known
to be extremely effective in eliminating waterborne pathogens, but they also weaken the additive stabilization system used to prevent premature degradation of the polymer. Pipe maintenance is estimated to be 1000 times more expensive than the cost of the pipe, with corresponding increases in CO2 emissions as a result.
The problem is global but predominant in warmer regions of the world (Australia, Southern Europe, Middle East, Americas) because higher amounts of chlorine disinfectant at higher ground temperatures accelerates the kinetics of the polymer degradation.
To benefit from the sustainability profile of HDPE compared to other materials, new drinking water pipes must be designed for improved durability, unparalleled safety, and circular end-of-life scenarios. In order to achieve all of these objectives, specialized additive stabilization packages are required to extend pipe lifetimes and reduce migration of NIAS substances. New additive packages have shown significant improvements in these areas, but importantly also demonstrate that by preventing at least one premature replacement, the carbon savings per meter of pipe is at least 19 kg CO2.
A new plastic additive technology for HDPE pipes, the novel stabilization system (ISB) addresses the challenges of water scarcity, environmental safety, and resource efficiency while in contact with chlorinated water for more than 50 years of service life. In addition, it meets current drinking water regulations which feature a reduction of the migration of NIAS, including Arvin substances.
As the industry shifts from traditional non-plastic pipe materials to lighter and more energy efficient plastic pipes, the demand for more sustainable solutions continues to increase. While plastic pipes are known to consume less energy during production and emit less CO2 per linear meter than their traditional counterparts, deterioration of the plastic material can result in significant loss of water during transit. Using chlorine-based disinfectants is known
to be extremely effective in eliminating waterborne pathogens, but they also weaken the additive stabilization system used to prevent premature degradation of the polymer. Pipe maintenance is estimated to be 1000 times more expensive than the cost of the pipe, with corresponding increases in CO2 emissions as a result.
The problem is global but predominant in warmer regions of the world (Australia, Southern Europe, Middle East, Americas) because higher amounts of chlorine disinfectant at higher ground temperatures accelerates the kinetics of the polymer degradation.
To benefit from the sustainability profile of HDPE compared to other materials, new drinking water pipes must be designed for improved durability, unparalleled safety, and circular end-of-life scenarios. In order to achieve all of these objectives, specialized additive stabilization packages are required to extend pipe lifetimes and reduce migration of NIAS substances. New additive packages have shown significant improvements in these areas, but importantly also demonstrate that by preventing at least one premature replacement, the carbon savings per meter of pipe is at least 19 kg CO2.
A new plastic additive technology for HDPE pipes, the novel stabilization system (ISB) addresses the challenges of water scarcity, environmental safety, and resource efficiency while in contact with chlorinated water for more than 50 years of service life. In addition, it meets current drinking water regulations which feature a reduction of the migration of NIAS, including Arvin substances.