Degradation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) / hydrolyzed collagen (HC) blends active sludge test.
Biodegradable polymers represent a solution for the environment protection: they decrease the landfill space, by declining the petrochemical sources, and offer also an alternative solution for the recycling.


METHODS
The behavior during degradation in the presence of active sludge of some polyvinyl chloride (PVC) based blends with variable content of hydrolyzed collagen (HC) has been followed. Some samples were subjected to UV irradiation, for 30 hours. The modifications induced in the environment by the polymer systems (pH variation, bacterial composition), as well as the changes of the properties of the blends (weight losses, aspect etc.) were studied.


RESULTS
During the first moments of degradation in active sludge, all the samples absorbed water, behavior which favored the biodegradation. The bacteriological analysis of the sludge indicates the presence of some microbiological species. Generally, the populations of microorganisms decrease, excepting the sulphito-reducing anaerobic bacteria, the actinomycetes and other anaerobic bacteria.


CONCLUSIONS
PVC/HC blends are degraded with a significant rate in active sewage sludge. More susceptible for the degradation are the UV irradiated blends. After the migration of the components with a small molecular mass in the environment, the natural polymer is degraded. The degradation effect increases with the content in the natural polymer.
Agafiţei
Gabriela-Elena
GE
P. Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry Iaşi.
Pascu
Mihaela
M
Cazacu
Georgeta
G
Vasile
Cornelia
C
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D012722:Sewage; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride; D003094:Collagen