As the Director of Tech Services and Training for Starwest Petroleum, Josh Mercer is often asked about bio-based, biodegradable, and environmentally acceptable products. It is important to understand the definitions and differences between these products to ensure their proper use.
Biodegradable products can be divided into two categories: inherently biodegradable products, which degrade up to 60% over a 28-day period, and readily biodegradable products, which degrade at a rate of typically over 70% in the same 28-day period. It is important to understand where the product will be used, as the requirements for marine applications are different from other uses.
For marine applications, an environmentally acceptable readily biodegradable non-toxic non-biocumer product is required. This type of product is typically derived from a synthetic ester or biosynthetic astrotype formulation. An example of such a product is the Envirotech El H-46.
It is crucial to understand the differences between these products and their intended use. If you have questions or are in need of a readily biodegradable, bio-based, or environmentally acceptable product, don’t hesitate to reach out to Josh Mercer or the team at Starwest Petroleum.
