pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S02 - Bio-based and Biodegradable Polymers
Poster Presentation
 
 

Environmental Biodegradation of Biopolymers and Biopolymer Blends in Soil and Compost environments

Nomadolo Nomvuyo (1)*

(1) CSIR - Gauteng - SouthAfrica

The polymeric materials with their extensive and short term application have led to their accumulation in the environment, which pose a serious environmental problem due to the non-degradability in both terrestrial and in aquatic environment. Biodegradable and bio-compostable polymers are an alternative for these non]biodegradable materials since; they can degrade in a defined time period without causing environmental problems. The present study involved the understanding of environmental impact of biopolymers: Poly butylene succinate (PBS), Polylactic acid (PLA) and Poly butylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), and biopolymer blends PLA/PBAT and PLA/PBS in various environments (home compost, industrial compost and soil burial). In this study, the mineralization (ultimate biodegradation) of these biopolymers and biopolymer blends were assayed on the basis of amount of carbon mineralized in biotic environments (soil and compost) for period of 110 days. During this environmental degradation conditions, hydrolysis and oxidation processes were monitored by the evaluation of the hydrolysis Index (OHi) and carbonyl Index (COi) profile by FT-IR spectroscopy. All the test materials were carried out up to the maximum extent of hydrolysis and oxidation processes. Changes in the thermal properties such as melting temperature (Tm) and degree of crystallinity were assessed by using differential scanning calorimetric (DSC), decomposition temperature (Tonset) and weight loss, were determined by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The ultimate biodegradation results showed that the biopolymer blends has advantages of enhanced biodegradability in natural environmental conditions (soil and compost). The present study constitutes a useful protocol in order to collect the information necessary to understand the interaction between nature and degradation products of biobased polymeric materials, in a dynamic system, to consider the latter as environmental friendly. Key words:Bio