Degradation and mineralization of cellulose acetate in simulated thermophilic compost environments

Gu, Ji‐Dong; Eberiel, David; McCarthy, Stephen P.; Gross, Richard A.

doi:10.1007/bf01458295

Cited by 74 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…One of the more convincing degradation studies was the aerobic biodegradation of radiolabelled CA by Komarek, Gardner, and Buchanan where they monitored the evolution of CO 2 from in vitro samples with the acetyl carbons labeled with 14 C [5]. The study compared CA with degrees of substitutions of 1.85, 2.07 and 2.57, and found the biodegradation rates were reduced, but not inhibited, by the higher levels of acetyl (Fig.…”

Section: Biological Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They found that the films completely disappeared after incubation for 7 and 18 days, respectively. In a related paper, the researchers evaluated the above degraded films by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to understand the degradation mechanisms [14]. Noteworthy observations were the pitting of the films by microbes and the limited changes in DS and molecular weights as the polymer degraded.…”

Section: Biological Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within their review on cellulose ester performance and application, Edgar and coworkers identified commercially 14 used cellulose acetates to be biodegradable, especially under composting conditions [20]. It is worth noting that composting is a sequence of appearance of microorganisms with a constant shift from the acid to the neutral and alkaline pH region, in which the pH may reach values as high as pH 9.…”

Section: Biological Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Degradation of Cellulose Acetate-Based Materials: A Review

Puls¹,

Wilson

Hölter³

2010

J Polym Environ

535

321

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Cellulose acetate polymer is used to make a variety of consumer products including textiles, plastic films, and cigarette filters. A review of degradation mechanisms, and the possible approaches to diminish the environmental persistence of these materials, will clarify the current and potential degradation rates of these products after disposal. Various studies have been conducted on the biodegradability of cellulose acetate, but no review has been compiled which includes biological, chemical, and photo chemical degradation mechanisms. Cellulose acetate is prepared by acetylating cellulose, the most abundant natural polymer. Cellulose is readily biodegraded by organisms that utilize cellulase enzymes, but due to the additional acetyl groups cellulose acetate requires the presence of esterases for the first step in biodegradation. Once partial deacetylation has been accomplished either by enzymes, or by partial chemical hydrolysis, the polymer's cellulose backbone is readily biodegraded. Cellulose acetate is photo chemically degraded by UV wavelengths shorter than 280 nm, but has limited photo degradability in sunlight due to the lack of chromophores for absorbing ultraviolet light. Photo degradability can be significantly enhanced by the addition of titanium dioxide, which is used as a whitening agent in many consumer products. Photo degradation with TiO 2 causes surface pitting, thus increasing a material's surface area which enhances biodegradation. The combination of both photo and biodegradation allows a synergy that enhances the overall degradation rate. The physical design of a consumer product can also facilitate enhanced degradation rate, since rates are highly influenced by the exposure to environmental conditions. The patent literature contains an abundance of ideas for designing consumer products that are less persistent in the outdoors environment, and this review will include insights into enhanced degradability designs.

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Section: Biological Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Biological Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Biological Degradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Degradation of Cellulose Acetate-Based Materials: A Review

Puls¹,

Wilson

Hölter³

2010

J Polym Environ

535

321

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Others can also evaluate the effects and degree of biodegradation caused by microorganism growth e.g. electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) or proton magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR) [8,10,16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resistance of Conifer Needle Polyolefin Composites (CNPCs) Against Biodecomposition Caused by Fungi

2017

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“…Reese 2) has reported that several cellulolytic microorganisms such as Pestalotiopsis westerdijkii QM 381 produced cellobiose octaacetatease, which deacetylated cellobiose octaacetate and water-soluble CA (DS, 0.76). It has been reported that CA membranes (DS, 2.5 and 2.8) were degraded by some microorganisms 3) and CAˆl ms (DS, 1.7 and 2.5) were degraded by Pseudomonas paucimobilis 4) , activated sludge, [5][6][7][8] and Bacillus sp. S2055.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%