Pure-culture and enzymatic assay for starch-polyethylene degradable plastic biodegradation withStreptomyces species

Eleven starch-polyethylene degradable plastic films were prepared from masterbatches from Archer Daniels Midland Inc. (ADM), EcoStar Inc. (SLS), and Fully Compounded Plastic Inc. The biodegradability of initial and 70°C heat-treated materials was determined using a pure-culture assay withStreptomyces badius 252,S. setonii 75Vi2, orS. viridosporus T7A or without bacterial culture (control). Films were treated with 10-foldS. setonii culture concentrates and compared with inactive enzyme controls. Changes in each films mechanical property, molecular weight distribution, and Fourier-transformed infrared spectrum (FT-IR) were determined, and results were evaluated for significant differences by analysis of variance. Cell mass accumulation on each film was quite pronounced. In pure-culture studies, biodegradation was demonstrated for ADM-7 and SLS-2 initial films and for ADM-6 heat-treated films, whereas after 3-week treatment with activeS. setonii culture concentrates (enzyme assay), reductions in mechanical properties and changes in FT-IR spectrum were illustrated by all the films except SLS-2. Thus the absence of biofilm formation on the film surface permitted enzymatic attack of the materials. Furthermore, inhibition of chemical oxidative degradation in the pure-culture assay was demonstrated for ADM-11, SLS-5, and SLS-10 initial materials and for ADM-4, ADM-7, SLS-8, and SLS-10 heat-treated films. These data suggest that biological and chemical degradation were directly affected by the reduction in oxygen tension on the plastic film surface due to cell mass accumulation. This same phenomenon could be the cause for slow degradation rates in nature.Journal Paper No. J-15061 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa. Project Nos. 0178 and 2889.