Degradation of starch-plastic composites in a municipal solid waste landfill

The rate and extent of deterioration of starch-plastic composites were determined over a 2-year period for samples buried in a municipal solid waste landfill. The deterioration of the starch-plastic composites following exposure was determined by measuring changes in tensile properties, weight loss, and starch content of samples retrieved from the landfill. Elongation decreases of 92 and 44% were measured for starch-plastic composite LDPE and LLDPE films, respectively, while elongation decreases of 54 and 21% were measured for their corresponding control films following 2 years of burial. Starch loss of 25% for LLDPE and 33% for LDPE starch-plastic composite films was measured following 2 years of landfill burial. Starch-plastic composites did not fragment or lose mass during the 2-year landfill burial. The limited degradation observed for the starch-plastic composites was attributed to the ineffectiveness of the prooxidant additive to catalyze the thermal oxidation of the polyethylene or polypropylene component of the starch-plastic composite under the environmental conditions present within the landfill.     

The influence of soil macroinvertebrates on primary biodegradation of starch-containing polyethylene films

The primary biodegradability of polyethylene (PE) films containing different percentages of cornstarch (0–50%) and other additives (prooxidant, oxidized polyethylene) was tested using four species of earthworms (Eisenia fetida, Lumbricus terrestris, Aporectodea trapezoides, Aporectodea tuberculata), three species of cockroaches (Periplaneta americana, Blaberus sp.,Blattella germanica), termites (Reticulotermes flavipes), sowbugs (Porcellio laevis), and crickets (Acheta domesticus). These studies were conducted to elucidate the potential role of soil macroinvertebrates in degrading starch/PE biodegradable plastics. The results of the macroinvertebrate bioassays indicate that crickets, cockroaches, and sowbugs consumed starch-containing PE films most readily. In addition, the degree to which the films were attacked and consumed was directly related to the starch content of the film. Films with oxidized polyethylene and those containing prooxidant (vegetable oil and a transition metal catalyst) were also consumed. None of the four species of earthworms tested or the termites showed any activity toward the starch/polyethylene films. These results have important implications for determining the fate of novel plastic formulations which claim to be biodegradable in natural environments. Studies such as these, coupled with studies on microbial degradation, will help provide the type of information needed to assess the environmental fate of biodegradable starch/PE plastics and fill the voids in the scientific database regarding this rapidly developing field.     

Starch-filled polyethylene in a composting environment: Evidence for polyethylene matrix oxidation

Two series of starch-filled polyethylene films, consisting of high-density or low-density polyethylene and 0–20% starch, have been exposed for 60 days to a controlled composting environment. Evidence is reported that the oxidation of the polyethylene matrix is dependent upon the polyethylene type and content of starch.     

An accelerated laboratory study evaluating the disintegration rates of plastic films in simulated aquatic environments

Six plastic films were exposed to accelerated sunlight while in simulated aquatic environments to determine the effects of chemical composition and environment on the disintegration rates. An environment of UV light/no water was used as a control to determine if the microorganisms in the aquatic systems enhanced the breakdown of the plastic films. The disintegration rate of the plastics was determined by monitoring changes in selected physical properties. The plastics included two conventional plastics commonly used in packaging (LDPE and polystyrene) and four plastics enhanced to have more rapid breakdown in the environment (2% ECO, 10% ECO, PE with ketone graft, and PE with starch). The two ECO copolymers had a significantly faster loss of physical properties than the other plastics evaluated in this study. Degradation was influenced by environmental conditions. Those plastics that showed a change in physical properties had a greater change faster in the UV light/no water than in the environments where water was present. Plastics on the surface of the water showed a more rapid loss of properties than those samples partially or completely submerged. This can be attributed to decreased light intensity and the lack of heat buildup.     

Preparation and Characterization of Compatible and Degradable Thermoplastic Starch/Polyethylene Film

The degradability of the compatible thermoplastic starch/polyethylene film was investigated by weight loss percent (WLP), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The compatible film was prepared by using the particles of thermoplastic starch/polyethylene blends that were produced by one-step reactive extrusion. The weight of the film after degradation reduced more than 3% for 30 days and 4% for 60 days. The FTIR results revealed that both starch and polyethylene in the film exhibited varying degrees of degradation. SEM photographs of the films after degradation showed that starch particles in the film disintegrated into smaller particles or separated out of the film surface. Degradation studies demonstrated that the compatible thermoplastic starch/polyethylene film had increased degradability at the given degradable environment. The information implies that this film could be utilized as a degradable plastic.     

环氧乙烷/乙二醇装置的清洁生产

分析了中国石化扬子石化烯烃厂环氧乙烷／乙二醇装置主要环境污染源,介绍了装置采取的主要清洁生产技术及应用效果。     

聚乙烯蜡表观黏度测定方法的研究

介绍了采用美国试验与材料协会标准ASTMD 1986-91(2007)制定我国《聚乙烯蜡表观黏度测定法》的过程。考察不同取样量、不同转速对试验结果的影响以及方法的重复性。试验结果表明:方法的重复性较好;不同取样量、不同转速对试验结果有一定的影响,应严格按方法要求操作。     

聚乙烯塑料的生物降解研究

塑料废弃物是目前最严重的固体废物污染问题,它正以每年4 000万t的速度在环境中积累,而塑料在自然界几乎完全不能被生物降解和参加物质循环,所以从不同方式提高其生物降解效率一直是重要的研究方向.本文从聚乙烯塑料的改性及降解预处理、生物降解途径、主要降解微生物及其酶,以及聚乙烯降解后的物理、化学与生物学性质的变化等方面总结了近年来聚乙烯生物降解的研究进展.提出了开拓聚乙烯降解的生物研究种类,分离并克隆能产生活性基团的关键酶及其基因,以及加强无添加剂的聚乙烯降解研究等方面的研究方向.     

Degradation of Polyethylene Designed for Agricultural Purposes

For many years now, scientific articles have been published on the potential biodegradability of polyethylene. Polyethylene (PE) with peroxidant additives, in the form of agricultural films, is sold by various suppliers as biodegradable mulch. Even though, the photo-chemical and thermal degradation of these products under artificial laboratory conditions is highlighted, several extrapolation on the biodegradation and, moreover, on the neutral environmental impact of PE are made. In this study, three different commercial mulch films have been submitted to standardised biodegradation tests and the results are discussed. The first conclusions are that a very low degree of biodegradation of the commercial PE films is achieved from these tests and that crosslinked PE micro-fragments are found in soil after a very long period of time.     

包埋厌氧氨氧化的脱氮特性及其微生物群落结构

采用聚乙二醇二丙烯酸酯作为载体,分别以N,N,N,‘N’-四甲基乙二胺（TEMED）,过硫酸钾（KPS）作为促进剂和引发剂,对厌氧氨氧化菌进行包埋固定化.采用正交试验优化包埋条件,得到的最佳条件为：10% PEGDA单体,0.25% KPS,0.5% TEMED,最佳的操作条件为：聚合温度20℃,聚合时间控制在5min左右,菌胶比选取1：1.包埋颗粒的连续流实验表明,颗粒经过短暂的活性恢复后,脱氮效果不断提升,并且对水力负荷的提高有一定的抗冲击能力.扫描电镜（SEM）表明本实验包埋材料具有很好的生物相容性,且具有良好的传质性能.高通量测序显示,稳定运行一段时间后,颗粒内微生物多样性略有减小,厌氧氨氧化功能菌Candidatus Kuenenia占整个微生物体系比例由6.58%上升至9.8%,微生物种群的变化说明了包埋后厌氧氨氧化性能能够得到更大的提升.