NBIO powder-free nitrile gloves (10x100) Reflexx

• PPE Cat. 3 risk for protection against chemical agents and microorganisms (EU Reg 2016/425).
  • EN ISO 374-1:2016 / TYPE C: certified with 1 chemical element
  • EN ISO 374-5:2016 / VIRUS: protective gloves against bacteria, fungi, and VIRUSES
• MEDICAL DEVICE for hospital and dental use (AQL 1.5), for examination, including invasive procedures, intended for temporary use (pursuant to EU Reg 2017/745, Standards EN 455 1, 2, 3 & 4).
• MOCA Suitable for contact with various types of food (in compliance with directive 2002/72/EEC, Ministerial Decree 21.3.1973, Reg. 2004/1935/EEC and EU Reg. 10/2011 and subsequent updates).
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Technical characteristics

Recommended for: medical, dental, cleaning, Ho.Re.Ca.

Reflexx NBio Nitrile Gloves: how do they work?

Nitrile gloves contain additives that accelerate their biodegradation process under anaerobic conditions when disposed of in biologically active landfills, due to the microorganisms present.

Anaerobic biodegradation typically occurs in marine sediments and landfills. The rate of biodegradation depends on the surrounding conditions and can vary based on temperature, humidity, and the bacterial load present in each landfill. The additives accelerate the biodegradation process of nitrile rubber gloves.

Biodegradation additives allow the nitrile rubber polymers to be more easily broken down into simpler, smaller molecules (oligomers, dimers, and monomers) through hydrolysis and oxidation reactions by microbial enzymes (lipases, proteinases, hydrogenases). During this degradation, microbial exoenzymes break the bonds of the polymeric chains, leading to the formation of small molecules and oligomers capable of passing through the outer membrane of bacteria and being used as a carbon and/or energy source by bacterial cells. This results in decomposition into simple inorganic compounds, with the release of biogas (CO₂ under aerobic conditions; CH₄ under anaerobic conditions), biomass, water (H₂O), and inorganic residues (if present in the starting material).

The glove material undergoes fragmentation and mineralization, losing its initial structure. It does not break down into microplastics because it does not undergo physical oxo-degradation processes.

Tests and certifications

These gloves have been tested according to ASTM D5511-18 (Standard Test Method for Determining the Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solid Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions), which simulates anaerobic biodegradation in an active landfill.

The results of laboratory analyses show effective biodegradation, with results around 80% w/w after 460 days and a plateau reached around 300 days, while classic nitrile gloves do not degrade and show a similar trend to the negative control of the method (polyethylene).

In addition to ASTM tests, tests were also carried out to determine the Methane Potential of Biomass (Biochemical Methane Potential – BMP), a parameter used to determine the maximum methane yield developed from organic substrates, providing an indication of biodegradability.

Sustainability and disposal

Every product biodegrades and dissolves in the environment, but some can take decades or even hundreds of years, while others can do so faster depending on their nature, physicochemical characteristics, and/or thanks to the application of new biodegradation technologies. However, these are very long periods: that is why no product should be dispersed into the environment.