ARS | Publication request: POLYSACCHARIDE BASED PLASTICS: THEIR BIODEGRADATION IN LABORATORY STUDIES

Submitted to: Pacific Basin Society Chemical International Congress Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 6, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Extruded blown films were prepared using cornstarch alone (F1) and in combination with chitin and with chitin containing low density polyethylene (LDPE) and poly-[ethylene-co-acrylic acid (EAA)]. Control films containing pure LDPE and EAA were also extruded. These films were incubated with a consortium of highly amylolytic bacteria (LD76) to determine their biodegradability. Biodegradation was assessed by measuring the change in the weight loss, FTIR spectra and physical properties over a 30 day period. While pure starch films lost 21% weight in 30 days, starch films containing LDPE-EAA lost 17.23% and starch-chitin film lost 13.6% weight over the same period. The control LDPE and EAA showed negligible weight loss. The FTIR analysis exhibited the diminished absorbency in bands attributed to C-O and O-H regions of starch and chitin. No spectral changes were observed in control samples. While percent elongation diminished significantly in all three formulations, loss of tensile strength was less dramatic.