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Structural effects on biodegradation of aliphatic polyesters
Author(s) -
Doi Yoshiharu,
Abe Hideki
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.19971180193
Subject(s) - polyester , biodegradation , monomer , biochemical oxygen demand , chemistry , carbon fibers , organic chemistry , materials science , environmental chemistry , chemical oxygen demand , polymer , environmental engineering , composite material , environmental science , wastewater , composite number
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.