Standardization and certification in the area of environmentally degradable plastics

Environmentally degradable polymers and plastics (EDPs) are a group of polymeric materials experiencing a rapid growth in number as well as in their applications and quantities used. The assessment of their key characteristic - degradability, including eventually biodegradability as the ultimate stage, is scientifically and technically a challenging issue and has led to differing interpretations in the past. In order to standardize techniques and criteria a number of standards were established by different standardization bodies which are also used as a basis for certification schemes. An up-to-date inventory of the rapidly growing standardization body is presented with basic interpretation to help guide the non-expert. A basic introduction to EDPs and polymer degradation is added for clarity.     

Composting and biodegradation of thermally processed feather keratin polymer

Proteins obtained from agricultural sources represent a unique feedstock from which to prepare thermally processable polymers. In this study, thermally processed feather keratin films were composted with three-month-old compost inoculum in self-heating laboratory composters for 30 days and temperature and carbon dioxide development monitored. About 24% of the available carbon in the feather keratin polymer (FKP) was metabolized in this time and this may not be high enough for some applications. Degradation of the feather keratin polymers was observed within 10 days with concurrent molecular weight reduction measured using FT-IR. Visual inspection of the polymers also showed destruction of the films. A change in crystallinity was observed in DSC analysis and some degradation processes could be inferred from this as well.     

The effect of UV-irradiation on composting of polyethylene modified by cellulose

LDPE and its blend with cellulose, obtained by extrusion, were UV-irradiated with different doses or biodegraded in soil up to 1 year. Simultaneously, the same samples were 1 year biodegraded after 20 h UV pre-irradiation in the same conditions. The course of photo- and biodegradation was monitored by estimation of average molecular weights and polydispersity, gel amount, changes of PE crystallinity and mechanical properties. Moreover, the biodegradation degree was calculated on the basis of carbon dioxide evolved and surface morphological changes were observed by SEM. It was found that biodegradation of PE + cellulose is hampered by intermolecular crosslinking of both components. Although, the rate of decomposition of PE + cellulose blends is low it is enough for disintegration of such materials in the natural environment.     

Development of a systems analysis approach for resolving the structure of biodegrading soil systems

An experimental and mathematical method is developed for the microbial systems analysis of polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading mixed cultures in PAH-contaminated “town gas” soil systems. Frequency response is the primary experimental and data analysis tool used to probe the structure of these complicated systems. The objective is to provide a fundamental protocol for evaluating the performance of specific mixed microbial cultures on specific soil systems by elucidating the salient system variables and their interactions. Two well-described reactor systems, a constant volume stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and a plug flow differential volume reactor, are used in order to remove performance effects that are related to reactor type as opposed to system structure. These two reactor systems are well-defined systems that can be described mathematically and represent the two extremes of one potentially important system variable, macroscopic mass transfer. The experimental and mathematical structure of the protocol is described, experimental data is presented, and data analysis is demonstrated for the stripping, sorption, and biodegradation of napththalene.     

Novel evaluation method of biodegradabilities for oil-based polycaprolactone by naturally occurring radiocarbon-14 concentration using accelerator mass spectrometry based on ISO 14855-2 in controlled compost

The biodegradabilities of poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) powders (av. size = 180.7 μm) in controlled compost at 58 °C have been studied using the microbial oxidative degradation analyzer (MODA) based on ISO 14855-2 entitled “Determination of the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials under controlled composting conditions - Method by analysis of evolved carbon dioxide - Part 2: Gravimetric measurement of carbon dioxide evolved in a laboratory-scale test”. The biodegradability of the PCL powders was 101.4% in a 56-day test period by the ISO method. The biodegradabilities of PCL powders have been studied using percent modern carbon (pMC) measured by accelerated mass spectrometry (AMS). Trapped CO₂ was analyzed by AMS to determine the pMC (sample) using ¹⁴C radiocarbon concentration. By using the theory that the pMC (sample) was the sum of pMC (compost) (104.88%) and pMC (PCL) (0%) as the respective ratios in the determined period, CO₂ (respiration) was calculated only from one reaction vessel. The biodegradability of PCL powders was 79.9% in a 56-day test period by the AMS method. It was found that respiration activities in the sample vessel including PCL, compost and sea sand were the same as that in the blank vessel including compost and sea sand without PCL during the active biodegradation period (0-33 day) at 58 °C. It was confirmed that respiration activities in the sample vessel were slightly higher than that in the blank vessel after active biodegradation due to the propagation of microorganisms using energy and metabolites by PCL biodegradation during those periods.     

Methanol Suppression of Trichloroethylene Degradation byMethylosinus trichosporium (OB3b) and Methane-Oxidizing Mixed Cultures

The effect of methanol on trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation by mixed and pure methylotrophic cultures was examined in batch culture experiments. Methanol was found to relieve growth inhibition ofMethylosinus trichosporium (OB3b) at high (14 mg/L) TCE concentrations. Degradation of TCE was determined by both radiolabeling and gas chromatography techniques. When cultures were grown on methanol over 10 to 14 d with 0.3 mg/L TCE, OB3b degraded 16.89 ±0.82% (mean± SD) of the TCE, and a mixed culture (DT type II) degraded 4.55±0.11%. Mixed culture (JS type I) degraded 4.34±0.06% of the TCE. When grown on methane with 0.3 mg/L TCE, 32.93±2.01% of the TCE was degraded by OB3b, whereas the JS culture degraded 24.3 ±1.38% of the TCE, and the DT culture degraded 34.3 ±2.97% of the TCE. The addition of methanol to cultures grown on methane reduced TCE degradation to 16.21 ±1.17% for OB3b and to 5.08±0.56% for JS. Although methanol reduces the toxicity of TCE to the cultures, biodegradation of TCE cannot be sustained in methanol-grown cultures. Since high TCE concentrations appear to inhibit methane uptake and growth, we suggest the primary toxicity of TCE is directed towards the methane monooxygenase.     

Bench Scale Studies of the Soil Aeration Process for Bioremediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons

An alternative to traditional hydrocarbon bioremediation is to pump air through unsaturated soils to create aerobic conditions and induce biodegradation. This study examines the effects of moisture and nutrient augmentation on biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in aerated soils. Findings indicate that forced aeration, coupled with additions of nutrients and moisture, stimulate hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms and present a feasible approach to bioremediation management.     

Impact of biological factors on binding media identification in art objects: identification of animal glue in the presence of Aspergillus niger

The materials and especially organic materials used for creation of art objects can be utilized by various microorganisms for their growth and facilitate the microbial colonization of the object. An understanding of the chemical alterations in artefacts caused by the presence of microorganisms can be crucial for correct identification of the materials initially used for the artefact creation--nowadays an important step in restoration and/or art-historical investigation of the art object. The present article describes a model experiment in which we investigated the possible chemical alterations in animal glue films used as substrate for growth of the fungus Aspergillus niger. The sterilized animal glue solution was poured into Petri dishes, inoculated with Aspergillus niger, and subsequently incubated at 15 degrees C for 0, 7, 9, 14, and 28 days. After interruption of incubation, the content of the Petri dish was analyzed for amino acid composition by the GC-MS based method. It was found that the growth of Aspergillus niger on animal glue films did not cause significant changes in the amino acid composition of the film and had no impact on animal glue identification.     

Synthesis of guar gum-based hydrogel for sugarcane field solid conditioning

The water crisis is increased everywhere in recent years, which has affected the water demand in different sectors like industries, agriculture, residential, etc. The present research aims to the development of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) using bio-material. The hydrogel is synthesized by grafting Guar gum (GG) with methyl methacrylate (MMA) and crosslinking with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The developed GG-based hydrogelwas characterized by various analytical instruments. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) demonstrated hydrogels havepores of size 50 ​μm–10 ​μm. The Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis has shownthat thematerial consists of spherical shapesand particles of size 141.11nm–182.19 ​nm.The Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) study have confirmedthepresence of functional groups of material, and thermal resistivity. The absorption capacity of developed hydrogelwas found to be 110 ​ml per gram (110% of its dry weight). The hydrogelwasapplied in the field of sugarcane crop and measured soil moisture content after 20 days of application. A better resultwas found of moisture content in the area of hydrogel application (28%) compared to the area without hydrogel application (10%). Moreover, the comparison of different hydrogels is also shown in a study, and the developed hydrogel proves good moisture retention capacity. This technology could be promising in terms of improving perennial crop productivity and combating moisture stress in agriculture. As a soil conditioning material for agricultural applications, the synthesized hydrogel showed tremendous potential.     

温敏性聚膦腈及其在药物释放体系中的应用

温敏性聚合物能通过感知温度而实现环境响应,作为药剂可依靠对此类信号的自反馈响应而释放药物或中止释放,极大地增强了释药的持续性和专一性,从而提高了药物的药效和安全性.温敏性聚膦腈是一类新型的温敏材料,它具有良好的生物可降解性质,优良的生物相容性.因此,温敏性聚膦腈作为药物载体用于药物释放体系具有很好的应用前景,近年来备受关注.本文对聚膦腈的温敏性质、生物降解性质进行了评述,并探讨了LCST的影响因素,以及在药物释放体系的应用进展.