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Digestion of crosslinked poly(vinylpyridinium halide) by activated sludge, and application to make poly(methyl methacrylate) biodegradable by incorporation of a pyridinium group into the main chain
Author(s) -
Kawabata Nariyoshi,
Uchihori Daisuke,
Fukuda Shinji,
Funahashi Hirokatsu
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1994.070510104
Subject(s) - pyridinium , biodegradation , polymer chemistry , bromide , chemistry , polymer , methyl methacrylate , activated sludge , gravimetric analysis , methacrylate , organic chemistry , copolymer , sewage treatment , waste management , engineering
Crosslinked poly( N ‐benzyl‐4‐vinyipyridinium bromide) has been found to be digested by activated sludge obtained from sewage works. As an extension of this work, the authors attempted to make poly(methyl methacrylate) biodegradable by incorporation of a pyridinium group. Poly(methyl methacrylate) containing a small amount of N ‐benzyl‐4‐vinylpyridinium chloride in the main chain showed remarkable reduction in molecular weight and gravimetric weight when placed in an aeration tank of a sewage works. Molecular weight reduction by activated sludge was more conspicuous when content of the pyridinium group was larger and the original molecular weight before the biological treatment was lower. Since insoluble pyridinium‐type polymer captures microbial cells alive, this biodegradation appears to be facilitated by enhancement of affinity of the synthetic hydrophobic polymer with cells of microogranisms. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.