The shape of the biodegradation curve for low and high density polyethenes in prolonged series of experiments

✍ Scribed by A.-C. Albertsson

• Book ID: 103074091
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1980
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 548 KB
• Volume: 16
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0014-3057
• DOI: 10.1016/0014-3057(80)90100-7

✦ Synopsis

Alrstract--Previous work on the I'rCO2 liberation (measured by liquid scintillation) after biodegradative attempts was extended from two to four years in the case of LDPE ([t4C]-labelled material mixed in the bulk) and was compared with results on HDPE (homogenously labelled by mixing in l-~4C]monomer). The trends for LDPE degradation with or without u.v.-sensitizer and its dependence on the surface/ volume ratio were found to be similar to HDPE in spite of the fact that LDPE is more inert. The degradation curves were characterized by a straight line progression in the first 100 days of observation before declining parabolically. This is probably due to a rapid exhaust and enzymatic cleavage of the extractible short chain materials from the bulk. The trend was occasionally reversed to a progressive increase of ~'~CO 2 liberation in some of the long term runs. Elucidation of this anomaly is being attempted.