Abstract
Injection-molded composites were prepared by blending PHBV5 with native cornstarch (30% and 50%) and with cornstarch precoated with PEO as a binding agent. These composites were evaluated for their biodegradability in municipal activated sludge by measuring changes in their physical and chemical properties over a period of 35 days. All composites lost weight, ranging from 45 to 78% within 35 days. Interestingly, the extent and rate of weight loss were quite similar in PHBV composites with no starch, with 30% starch, and with 50% starch. Weight loss was slowest in PHBV blends prepared with PEO-coated starch. For all samples, the weight loss was accompanied by a rapid deterioration in tensile strength and percentage elongation. The deterioration of these mechanical properties exhibited a relative rate of PHBV>starch-PHBV>PEO-coated starch-PHBV. Changes in starch/PHBV composition after biodegradation were quantified by FTIR spectroscopy. Increasing the starch content resulted in more extensive starch degradation, while the PHBV content in the blends became less susceptible to hydrolytic enzymes.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
F. H. Otey, R. P. Westhoff, and C. R. Russell (1977)Ind. Eng. Chem. Prod. Res. Dev. 16, 305–308.
F. H. Otey and R. P. Westhoff (1982) U.S. Patent 4,337,181.
S. H. Imam, A. Burgess-Cassler, G. L. Cote, S. H. Gordon, and F. L. Baker (1991)Curr. Microbiol. 22, 365–370.
S. H. Imam, S. H. Gordon, A. R. Thompson, R. E. Harry-O'kuru, and R. V. Greene (1993)Biotechnol. Tech. 7, 791–794.
C. L. Swanson, R. L. Shogren, G. F. Fanta, and S. H. Imam (1993)J. Environ. Polym. Degrad. 1, 155–165.
J. M. Gould, S. H. Gordon, L. B. Dexter, and C. L. Swanson (1990) in J. E. Glass, and G. Swift (Eds.),Agricultural and Synthetic Polymers: Biodegradability and Utilization, ACS Symposium Series No. 433. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, pp. 65–75.
S. H. Imam, J. M. Gould, S. H. Gordon, M. P. Kinney, A. M. Ramsey, and T. R. Tosteson (1992)Curr. Microbiol. 25, 1–8.
A. Burgess-Cassler, S. H. Imam, and J. M. Gould (1991)Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57, 612–614.
A. Burgess-Cassler, S. H. Imam, and M. P. Kinney (1994)Biotechnol. Lett. 16, 565–568.
A. Burgess-Cassler and S. H. Imam (1991)Curr Microbiol. 23, 207–213.
R. P. Wool, J. S. Peanasky, J. M. Long, and S. M. Goheen (1990) in Barenberg, Brash, Narayan, and Redpath (Eds.),Degradable Materials; Proceedings of the First International Scientific Consensus Workshop, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
B. A. Ramsay, V. Langlade, P. J. Carreau, and J. A. Ramsey (1993)Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 59, 1242–1246.
W. Sung and Z. L. Nikolov (1992)Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 31, 2332–2339.
S. H. Imam and J. M. Gould (1990)Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 56, 872–876.
S. H. Imam and R. E. Harry-O'Kuru (1991)Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57, 1128–1133.
M. Vert, J. Feijen, A. Albertsson, G. Scott, and E. Chiellini (1992)Biodegradable Polymers and Plastics, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, England.
P. A. Holmes, S. H. Collins, and W. F. Wright (1978) European Patent 69,497.
R. L. Shogren (1995)J. Environ. Polym. Degrad. 3, 75–80.
T. B. Hirschfeld (1976)Anal. Chem. 48, 721–723.
J. L. Koenig and D. Kormos (1979)Appl. Spectrosc. 33, 349–350.
T. Tanio, T. Fukui, Y. Shirakura, T. Satio, K. Tomita, K. Kaito, and S. Masamune (1982)Eur. J. Biochem. 124, 71–77.
Y. Doi, Y. Kanesawa, M. Kunioka, and T. Saito (1990)Macromolecules 23, 26–31.
M. Parikh, R. A. Gross, and S. P. McCarthy (1993) in C. Ching, D. Kaplan, and E. Thomas (Eds.),Biodegradable Polymers and Packaging, Technomic, Lancaster, PA, pp. 159–170.
H. Nishida, and Y. Tokiwa (1993)J. Environ. Polym. Degrad. 1, 65–80.
R. L. Shogren, A. R. Thompson, F. C. Felker, R. E. Harry-O'kuru, S. H. Gordon, R. V. Greene, and J. M. Gould (1991)J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 44, 1971–1978.
R. L. Shogren, A. R. Thompson, R. V. Greene, S. H. Gordon, and G. L. Cote (1991)J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 47, 2279–2286.
G. F. Fanta, C. L. Swanson, and R. L. Shogren (1992)J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 44, 2037–2042.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The mention of firms names or trade products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture over firms or similar products not mentioned. All programs and services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, or handicap.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Imam, S.H., Gordon, S.H., Shogren, R.L. et al. Biodegradation of starch-poly(β-hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) composites in municipal activated sludge. J Environ Polym Degr 3, 205–213 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02068675
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02068675