title: Synergistic effects of pretreatment and blending on fungi mediated biodegradation of polypropylenes.
abstract: Environmental issues raise concern on restrict the use of nondegradable polymers and encourage the development of degradable once. This study is carried out was to understand the rate of biodegradation of untreated and pretreated (100°C or UV for 10 days) polypropylene (PP), pro-oxidant blended (MI-PP) and starch blended polypropylenes (ST-PP) with two different fungal strains, Phanerochaete chrysosporium NCIM 1170 (F1) and Engyodontium album MTP091 (F2). About 18.8% and 9.42% gravimetric weight loss and 79% and 57% TGA weight loss (at 400°C) were observed with UV pretreated MI-PP in 1 year with F2 and F1 strains respectively. The amount of lacasse produced by the organism and biomass attached on the polymer surface are correlated with TGA weight loss (0.6-0.93). The formation of extractable oxygenated compounds and unoxidized low-molecular weight hydrocarbons are high in pretreated and blended samples. These results indicate blending and pretreatment strategy leads to an optimal waste-disposal strategy.
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering and Drug Design Lab, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamilnadu 600036, India; Centre of Excellence In Envriromental Studies, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah-21589, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jeyakumar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chirsteen
authors.forename: Mukesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doble
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008970:Molecular Weight; D020075:Phanerochaete; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties; D013818:Thermogravimetry
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes
keywords: Biodegradation; Engyodontium album; Metal ions; Phanerochaete chrysosporium; Polypropylene