Author
Tisserat, Brent | |
REIFSCHNEIDER, LOUIS - Illinois State University |
Submitted to: Society of Plastics Engineers Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 4/28/2014 Publication Date: 5/1/2014 Citation: Tisserat, B., Reifschneider, L. 2014. Plant growth responses to polypropylene--biocontainers. Proceedings of ANTEC-SPE Society of Plastics Engineers. 15:2047-2051. Interpretive Summary: Wood plastic composites are utilized as substitutes for pure plastic resins because they are less expensive, provide unique physical and mechanical properties and are considered more environmentally-friendly. Very little is known concerning phytotoxicity of additives (i.e. bio-fillers) incorporated into plastics. This study investigates the influence of bio-fillers on the growth of plants. The bio-fillers used at the concentrations employed in the plastics exhibited detrimental effects to plant growth. However, incorporation of bio-fillers into polypropylene did much to mitigate these effects. These results suggest that bio-fillers incorporated into plastics may cause the composite to exhibit chemical qualities that may substitute for synthetic additives that are currently being employed. Technical Abstract: The influence of bio-fillers incorporated into polypropylene (PP) on the growth of plants was evaluated. Biocontainers were created by injection molding of PP with 25-40% by weight of Osage orange tree, Paulownia tree, coffee tree wood or dried distillers grain and 5% by weight of maleated polypropylene. A comparison in growth responses of radish and Kentucky Bluegrass seedlings grown in soil with biocontainers and in commercial polypropylene nursery containers containing the fillers only in soil for 32 d was conducted. The physical properties of the biocontainers were also evaluated. |