| Abstract: | Various types of aliphatic polyesters were prepared by both biosynthetic and chemosynthetic methods, and their biodegradation tests were carried out under aerobic conditions in the river water. Biodegradabilities of polyester films were evaluated by monitoring the time-dependent changes in the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), weight loss (erosion) of polyester film, and dissolved organic carbon concentration (DOC) of test solution. The microbial copolyesters were degraded in the river water at a rapid rate, and the weight-loss- and BOD-biodegradabilities of the majority of biosynthetic polyesters were 100 % and 80±5 % for 28 days, respectively. In contrast, the biodegradabilities of chemosynthetic polyesters were strongly dependent of the chemical structure of monomeric units. |
