What is the time frame for this degradation process of super absorbent polymers?
At the time being, it is not possible to track the transition of super absorbent polymers from an additive to soil into the humus fraction under naturally occurring conditions by analytical means. The process is assumed basing on theoretical considerations, many years of experience, and scientific data from laboratory examinations. While depolymerization of the polymer by fungi occurred within few weeks under optimum conditions, a time period of several years should be calculated under relevant use conditions in the field. The age of different divisions of the humic fraction is about 10 – 100 years for less altered fragments of lignin and about 100 – 1000 years for immobilized humic acids.
