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Estimation of the biodegradability of packaging materials by a screening test and a weight‐loss method
Author(s) -
Coma V.,
Couturier Y.,
Pascat B.,
Bureau G.,
Guilbert S.,
Cuq J. L.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
packaging technology and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.365
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1099-1522
pISSN - 0894-3214
DOI - 10.1002/pts.2770070106
Subject(s) - trichoderma viride , cellophane , cellulosic ethanol , pseudomonas fluorescens , food science , biodegradation , aspergillus niger , cellulose , materials science , biology , composite material , chemistry , bacteria , organic chemistry , genetics
Two methods were studied in order to estimate the degradability of packaging materials, using cellulosic materials—such as cellophane or paraffin waxed paper—as models. A preliminary orientation test was carried out, based on the visual observation of microbial development on the materials used. This qualitative test permitted an initial classification of materials according to their potential degradability, and especially allowed the identification of microbial species, particularly fungi, most likely to grow on the materials being studied. The biofragmentation of materials was evaluated from their dry weight loss. For a fixed time of incubation, the classification of these materials was based either on the percentage or on the absolute value of this weight loss. For the method applied to a solid medium, we found that an inoculum deposited on an agar surface was more suitable than direct inoculation of the samples, in fact, pure fungi strains, especially Trichoderma viride or Aspergillus niger , were found to be more suitable for cellulosic materials than the bacterial strains ( Pseudomonas fluorescens ) or bacterial mixture used.