title: Identification of important abiotic and biotic factors in the biodegradation of poly(l-lactic acid).
abstract: The biodegradation of four poly(l-lactic acid) (PLA) samples with molecular weights (MW) ranging from approximately 34 to 160kgmol(-1) was investigated under composting conditions. The biodegradation rate decreased, and initial retardation was discernible in parallel with the increasing MW of the polymer. Furthermore, the specific surface area of the polymer sample was identified as the important factor accelerating biodegradation. Microbial community compositions and dynamics during the biodegradation of different PLA were monitored by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis, and were found to be virtually identical for all PLA materials and independent of MW. A specific PLA degrading bacteria was isolated and tentatively designated Thermopolyspora flexuosa FTPLA. The addition of a limited amount of low MW PLA did not accelerate the biodegradation of high MW PLA, suggesting that the process is not limited to the number of specific degraders and/or the induction of specific enzymes. In parallel, abiotic hydrolysis was investigated for the same set of samples and their courses found to be quasi-identical with the biodegradation of all four PLA samples investigated. This suggests that the abiotic hydrolysis represented a rate limiting step in the biodegradation process and the organisms present were not able to accelerate depolymerization significantly by the action of their enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Centre of Polymer Systems, nám. T.G. Masaryka 5555, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic; Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Faculty of Technology, Department of Environmental Protection Engineering, nám. T.G. Masaryka 5555, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Husárová
authors.affiliation: Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Faculty of Technology, Department of Environmental Protection Engineering, nám. T.G. Masaryka 5555, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Silvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pekařová
authors.affiliation: Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Centre of Polymer Systems, nám. T.G. Masaryka 5555, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic; Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Faculty of Technology, Department of Environmental Protection Engineering, nám. T.G. Masaryka 5555, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stloukal
authors.affiliation: Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Centre of Polymer Systems, nám. T.G. Masaryka 5555, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kucharzcyk
authors.affiliation: Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; CNRS, UMR 6296, ICCF, BP 80026, F-63171 Aubiere, France.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Verney
authors.affiliation: Clermont Université, ENSCCF, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Commereuc
authors.affiliation: Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, Institut de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand, BP 10448, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramone
authors.affiliation: Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Centre of Polymer Systems, nám. T.G. Masaryka 5555, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic; Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Faculty of Technology, Department of Environmental Protection Engineering, nám. T.G. Masaryka 5555, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic. Electronic address: mkoutny@ft.utb.cz.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koutny
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D019344:Lactic Acid
keywords: Abiotic hydrolysis; Biodegradation; Polylactic acid