Biodegradable Fluid-Permeable Tube
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Applicant: Alldrain
Inventor(s): Patricia Van Deurzen [NL], Rob Kursten [NL]
Patent Number: EP4553231A1
Publication Date: 14 May 2025
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fluid-permeable tubes used for soil aeration and water management. It introduces a biodegradable solution suitable for temporary agricultural use, ensuring no residual waste remains in the soil.
The Problem
Existing fluid-permeable tubes, commonly made from polymeric materials and wrapped in fibre fleeces, are used to either drain water from soil or introduce air or water into it. However, these tubes are typically non-biodegradable. Since they are often needed only temporarily, retrieving them from the soil is impractical and costly. As a result, they remain in the ground as waste. Although biodegradable polymers like polylactic acid or starch-based materials are known, their application in this context remains limited.
The Solution
This invention addresses the need for biodegradable fluid-permeable tubes with predictable service life and degradation timelines. The proposed design features a tube body with radial holes for fluid passage, surrounded by one or more fluid-permeable filtration layers. Both the tube body and the filtration layers are made from biodegradable polymers.
Image: schematic radial cross-section of the fluid-permeable tube as described in this invention.
Advantages
The fluid-permeable tube described here, especially when incorporating biodegradable manmade polymer fibres in its filtration layers, offers a more predictable and uniform degradation process. This predictability enhances environmental sustainability, as the tube naturally decomposes without harming the soil.
Independent Claim
A fluid-permeable tube comprising a tube body with radial holes for fluid passage, and one or more fluid-permeable filtration layers surrounding the tube body, wherein both the tube body and the filtration layers are made of biodegradable polymer.
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