Microbial Degradation of the Natural Rubber in Tire Tread Compound by a Strain of Nocardia

Tread compound of truck tires is based primarily on natural rubber or blends of natural rubber (NR) and synthetic polymers in combination with high grade carbon black. When the tread compound is attacked by a strain of Nocardia capable of degrading NR, part of the NR in the compound is mineralized, and part is disintegrated to very small black particles. The small black particles consist of the residual rubber and inorganic fillers. At higher NR content, large and deep cavities are formed on the surface of the pieces of the tread compound after microbial disintegration. At lower content of NR, large but very shallow cavities or very small pits can be seen on the tread surface. During microbial growth on the tread compound, isoprene oligomers with molecular weight of about two thousand are produced. Not only the isoprene oligomers, but also butadiene oligomers are produced during microbial disintegration of the tread compound of NR/synthetic rubber blend.     

Effect of microbial activity on the mobility of chromium in soils

The effect of microbial activity on the chemical state of chromium, in a contaminated soil located in the Rh?ne-Alpes region (France), has been investigated. This soil contained 4,700 mg kg(-1) Cr, with about 40% present in the soluble hexavalent form. Indigenous microbial activity was found to significantly reduce Cr(VI) to the less mobile form (III) when the soil was incubated at 30 degrees C in an aqueous medium containing glucose and nutrients. A Cr(VI)-reducing strain of Streptomyces thermocarboxydus was isolated from the contaminated soil. The strain was found to metabolize Cr(VI) in a similar manner as an exogenous inoculum of Pseudomonas fluorescens LB300, and to precipitate chromium as a Cr oxyhydroxide with a gammaCrOOH-like local structure. The Cr(VI)-reducing activity of S. thermocarboxydus was induced, or significantly accelerated, by the aggregation of bacterial cells or their adhesion to suspended solid particles, and was stimulated in pure culture by glycerol and chromate.     

Influence of pH and C/N Ratio on Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Biodegradation in Mixed Bacterial Culture

Cultivation conditions affecting poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) degradation by a mixed bacterial culture of Bacillus sp. and Curtobacterium sp. were investigated. Bacterial strains used in this study were isolated from the watercourse and the sewage sludge of vinylonfibre mill by enrichments on PVA as the sole carbon source. The results showed that PVA was greatly degraded under the following conditions: 0.5% PVA as a substrate at the initial medium pH of 8 with 0.15% glucose and urea at C/U ratio 1.5:1 and 1% bacterial inoculum, at a temperature of 35 °C and a shaking speed of 110 rpm. The analysis of FTIR and ¹H NMR spectra before and after biodegradation indicate fission of the PVA molecular chain during the incubation.     

Some Rheological Properties of Latex from Parthenium argentatum Gray Compared with Latex from Hevea brasiliensis and Ficus elastica

Latex was purified from Parthenium argentatum Gray (guayule), Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg. (the Brazilian or para rubber tree), and Ficus elastica Roxb. (the Indian rubber tree) in ammonium alginate at pH 10. The rheological properties of the different latices (rubber particle suspensions) were determined and compared using flow temperature ramps. Latex from all three species became more viscous with increasing rubber particle concentration and decreasing temperature. At any particular temperature and concentration, latex from F. elastica was by far the most viscous, whereas the H. brasiliensis latex was the least viscous. In addition, the tendency for the latex to coagulate increased with increasing temperature and increasing particle concentration. F. elastica latex was highly sensitive to temperature, H. brasiliensis latex was the least sensitive, and P. argentatum latex demonstrated intermediate properties. The underlying causes of these differences in latex rheology are not clear but may partially relate to the particle size (largest in F. elastica and smallest in H. brasiliensis), the particle size distribution, and/or to the considerable differences in the biochemical components of the monolayer biomembrane that surrounds the various rubber particles. Differences in the molecular weight of the rubber contained within the rubber particles seem less likely to play a role because the particles remain intact in this study.     

Biodegradability of chitin- and chitosan-containing films in soil environment

The biodegradation of polyethylene-chitin (PE-chitin) and polyethylene-chitosan (PE-chitosan) films, containing 10% by weight chitin or chitosan, by pure microbial cultures and in a soil environment was studied. Three soil-inhabited organsims,Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, andBeauveria bassiana were able to utilize chitin and chitosan in prepared PE-chitin and PE-chitosan films after eight weeks of incubation at 25°C in a basal medium containing no source of carbon or nitrogen. In a soil environment, the biodegradation of those films was studied and compared with a commercial biodegradable film containing 6% by the weight of corn starch. In soil placed in the lab, 73.4% of the chitosan and 84.7% of the chitin in the films were degraded, while 46.5% of the starch in the commercial film was degraded after six months of incubation. In an open field, 100% of the chitin and 100% of the chitosan in the films were degraded, but only 85% of the starch in the commercial film was degraded after six months of incubation. The weight of controls, (polyethylene films), remained mainly stable during the incubation period. Both PE-chitin and PE-chitosan films degraded at a higher rate than the commercial starch-based film in a soil environment indicating the potential use of chitin-based films for the manufacturing of biodegradable packaging materials.     

Bioremediation of PCP-contaminated soil: Bench to full-scale implementation

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a widely used wood treatment agent and pesticide that is often listed among the contaminants at hazardous waste sites. Bench-scale studies were performed to develop a microbial culture and biodegradative process that could treat PCP at higher concentrations than previously reported. Several substrate formulations and culture techniques were evaluated. Ultimately a “self-feeding” (pH auxostat) continuous culture system (pH auxostat) was used to select for biodegradative activity with PCP as the carbon and energy source. After a period of 50 days, influent PCP concentrations reached 3,500 mg/liter at a dilution rate of 0.066 H^?1. Of the total theoretical chloride that could be released from PCP, 99% was detected as free chloride in the reactor effluent. PCP analysis of the effluent verified complete degradation by the microbial consortium. The reactor was converted to a constant PCP feed. At steady state conditions, the dilution rate was 0.05 H^?1 with an influent PCP concentration of 2,560 mg/liter and a biomass yield of 018 mg (dry weight) per mg of PCP. Mineralization studies performed with the microbial consortium using [U-14C1]-PCP indicated that 36.5% of the label was released as 14C-carbon dioxide.     

Uptake of chromium by Aspergillus foetidus

Aspergillus foetidus has the ability to take up chromium during the stationary phase of growth and under growth-nonsupportive conditions. We observed a 97% decrease in hexavalent chromium (initial concentration 5 µg/g) at the end of 92 h of growth, which may be due to its reduction to Cr (III) and/or complexation with organic compounds released due to the metabolic activity of the fungus. Replacement culture studies under growth-nonsupportive conditions revealed that the maximum uptake of Cr (VI) at pH 7.0 is 2 mg/g of dry biomass. At low or high pH values, Cr (VI) uptake is significantly reduced. In addition, the initial rate of total chromium uptake is also enhanced by higher biomass concentrations and the presence of glucose. The results obtained through this investigation indicate the possibility of treating waste effluents containing hexavalent chromium using Aspergillus foetidus.     

Recovery of nickel oxide from spent catalyst

This study investigates the possibility of recovering nickel from the spent catalyst (NiO/Al2O3) resulting from the steam reforming process to produce water gas (H2/H2O) in many industries. In the extraction process, nickel is recovered as sulfate using sulfuric acid as a solvent. The considered parameters affecting nickel recovery were acid concentration, temperature and time of digestion solid:liquid ratio, particle size and stirring rate. Nickel was to be directly recovered as a sulfate salt by direct crystallization method. The conversion was 99% at 50% sulfuric acid concentration, solid: liquid ratio (1:12) by weight, particle size less than 500 micron for more than 5 h and 800 rpm at 100 degrees C.     

Changes in Extractability of Cr and Pb in a Polycontaminated Soil After Bioaugmentation With Microbial Producers of Biosurfactants, Organic Acids and Siderophores

Partly because of the low bioavailability of metals, the soil cleaning-up using phytoremediation is usually time-consuming. In order to enhance the amount of metals at the plant's disposal, the soil bioaugmentation coupled together with phytoextraction is an emerging technology. In this preliminary work, two agricultural soils which mainly differed in their Cr, Hg and Pb contents (LC, low-contaminated soil; HC, high-contaminated soil) were bioaugmented in laboratory conditions by either bacterial (Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens or Ralstonia metallidurans) or fungal inocula (Aspergillus niger or Penicillium simplicissimum) and incubated during three weeks. The LC soil pots bioaugmented with A. niger and P. aeruginosa contained higher concentrations of Cr (0.08 and 0.25 mg.kg⁻¹ dw soil) and Pb (0.25 and 0.3 mg.kg⁻¹ dw soil) in the exchangeable fraction F1 (extraction with MgCl₂) by comparison with the non-bioaugmented soil where neither Cr nor Pb was detected. Conversely, immobilization of Cr and Pb in the soil were observed with the other microorganisms. The soil bioaugmentation not only modified the metal speciation for the most easily extractable fractions but also modified the distribution of metals in the other fractions, to a lesser extent nevertheless. The difference in microbial concentrations between the bioaugmented or not HC soils reached up to 1.8 log units. Thus the microorganisms that we chose for the soil bioaugmentation were competitive towards the indigenous microflora. The PCA analysis showed close positive relationships between the microorganisms which potentially produced siderophores in the soil and the amount of Cr and Pb in the fraction F1.     

Biodegradation of Epoxy and MF Modified Polyurethane Films Derived from a Sustainable Resource

Mesua ferrea L. seed oil (MFLSO) modified polyurethanes blends with epoxy and melamine formaldehyde (MF) resins have been studied for biodegradation with two techniques, namely microbial degradation (broth culture technique) and natural soil burial degradation. In the former technique, rate of increase in bacterial growth in polymer matrix was monitored for 12 days via a visible spectrophotometer at the wavelength of 600 nm using McFarland turbidity as the standard. The soil burial method was performed using three different soils under ambient conditions over a period of 6 months to correlate with natural degradation. Microorganism attack after the soil burial biodegradation of 180 days was realized by the measurement of loss of weight and mechanical properties. Biodegradation of the films was also evidenced by SEM, TGA and FTIR spectroscopic studies. The loss in intensity of the bands at ca. 1735 cm⁻¹ and ca. 1050 cm⁻¹ for ester linkages indicates biodegradation of the blends through degradation of ester group. Both microbial and soil burial studies showed polyurethane/epoxy blends to be more biodegradable than polyurethane/MF blends. Further almost one step degradation in TG analysis suggests degradation for both the blends to occur by breakage of ester links. The biodegradation of the blends were further confirmed by SEM analyses. The study reveals that the modified MFLSO based polyurethane blends deserve the potential to be applicable as “green binders” for polymer composite and surface coating applications.     

Biodegradation of Poly(vinyl alcohol) and Bacterial Cellulose Composites by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis>

The ability of fungal strains to attack a composite material obtained from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and bacterial cellulose (BC) is investigated. The fungal strain tested was Aspergillus niger. This fungal strain was able to change not only the polymer surface from smoother to rougher, but also to disrupt the polymer. The degradation results were confirmed by visual observations, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses, X-ray diffraction analyses and FTIR spectra of the film samples. SEM micrographs confirmed the growth of fungi on the composite film surface. The degree of microbial degradation depends on culture medium and on composition of polymeric materials, especially on PVA content. The biodegradation process is accelerated by the presence of glucose in the culture medium as an easily available carbon source.     

Degradation of L- and DL-lactic acid oligomers in the presence ofFusarium moniliforme andPseudomonas putida

Poly(-alkanoates) derived from lactic acid enantiomers are known to degrade easily hydrolytically in aqueous media. The ability of two microorganisms, a filamentous fungus,Fusarium moniliforme, and a bacterium,Pseudomonas putida, to assimilate the degradation by-products of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), namely, lactic acid, lactyllactic acid dimers, and higher oligomers, was investigated in liquid culture. To distinguish the influence of chirality on bioassimilation, two series of substrates were considered which derived from the racemic and the L-form of lactic acid, respectively. The fate of these compounds was monitored by HPLC. Under the selected conditions,DL- andL-lactic acids were totally used by the two microorganisms regardless of the enantiomeric composition. Both microorganisms degraded the LL-dimer rather rapidly. However,F. moniliforme acted more rapidly thanP. putida. It is likely that the DD-dimer also biodegraded but at a slower rate, especially in the case of the fungi. Higher racemic oligomers were slowly assimilated by the two microorganisms, whereas higher L-oligomers appeared biostable probably because of their crystallinity. A synergistic effect was observed when both microorganisms were present in the same culture medium containing racemic oligomers.Presented at the 4th International Workshop on Biodegradable Plastics and Polymers, October 11–14, 1995. Durham, New Hampshire.     

Effects of municipal solid waste compost application on the microbial biomass of cultivated and non-cultivated soil in a semi-arid zone.

The aim of this study was to assess whether soil microbial biomass could be used as an indicator of environmental changes following the application of organic residue (compost of municipal solid waste and farmyard manure) or mineral fertilizers (N and P) into cultivated or uncultivated loam-clayey soil, for three consecutive years. The carbon and nitrogen of the microbial biomass (B(C) and B(N) were studied using the fumigation-extraction method. For the two cultivated and uncultivated plots, B(N) and B(C) were more important in the superficial profile (0-20 cm) than in the deep one (20-40 cm). In the uncultivated soil, we observed a good linear relation between B(C) and B(N) at the level of upper soil horizon during the wet season with r coefficients of 0.95, 0.71 and 0.80 for the consecutive years 2000, 2001 and 2002, respectively. Microbial biomasses C and N increased during the rainy season and decreased during the dry season. Microbial biomass C and N showed the higher content with compost and farmyard manure at 40 tonnes ha(-1). Moreover, the results showed that at the beginning of the experiment, the microbial biomass was higher in the ploughed wheat-cultivated plot than in the uncultivated one. Microbial biomass C and N in the cultivated plot amended with compost at 40 tonnes ha(-1) were significantly different in comparison with the soil microbial biomass amended with farmyard manure. The combining of chemical fertilizer with the organic fertilizer, such as compost at 40 or 80 tonnes ha(-1) and farmyard manure, increased the microbial biomasses C and N after 1 and 2 years. In the cultivated or uncultivated plots the results revealed that the best application rate of the compost was 40 tonnes ha(-1) and when the compost rate was increased from 40 to 80 tonnes ha(-1) both B(C) and B(N) decreased significantly.     

Recycling process for yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia ceramics using a hydrothermal treatment

The recycling process for 3 mol% yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (3Y-TZP) sintered at 1450°–1550°C was examined by applying low-temperature degradation of zirconia ceramics under hydrothermal conditions. Hydrothermal treatment at a temperature from 200° to 240°C can lead to the spontaneous disintegration of 3Y-TZP sintered bodies into powdery particles. The hydrothermally obtained zirconia powder was found to consist of primary particles and aggregated particles. Detailed X-ray diffraction measurement revealed the formation of a cubic zirconia phase in the 3Y-TZP sintered bodies, which seemed to inhibit the disintegration of aggregated particles toward the primary particle level. The reclaimed 3Y-TZP powder was sintered again through a conventional powder processing route. The mechanical properties and microstructure of recycled 3Y-TZP sintered specimens were examined by comparison with those of the original 3Y-TZP sintered bodies. Dense recycled 3Y-TZP sintered at a higher temperature exhibited higher fracture toughness to some degree than the original 3Y-TZP.     

Biodegradation of Compostable Plastics in Green Yard-Waste Compost Environment

Compostable plastic materials, produced from polylactic acid (PLA), corn starch, or sugarcane, degraded in a green yard-waste compost environment. The compostable plastics claim to meet ASTM D6400 standards for biodegradation, sustainable plant growth, and eco-toxicity. Biodegradation was measured by disintegration studies over 20 weeks. The commercially available compostable products, made from PLA, sugarcane, or corn starch, biodegraded while in a commercial compost facility with other common yard waste compostable items. The PLA container, cup, and knife completely degraded in 7 weeks at a rate similar to the Avicell micro-cellulose control. The corn starch-based trash bag and sugarcane plate degraded at a similar rate as the Kraft paper control. The three materials degraded between 80% and 90% after 20 weeks.     

有机溶剂中温法溶出光伏组件封装材料乙烯-醋酸乙烯酯

采用有机溶剂邻二氯苯中温法溶出模拟光伏组件的封装材料乙烯-醋酸乙烯酯(EVA),探究了不同条件下EVA的溶出率及模拟组件的分离率,通过正交实验确定了有机溶剂中温法处理EVA的最佳条件.实验结果表明,在反应温度160℃、固液比(光伏组件个数与邻二氯苯体积之比,个/mL)4:100、搅拌转速800 r/min、反应时间24...     

Effect of complex nitrogen source on the synthesis and accumulation of poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) by recombinantEscherichia coli in flask and fed-batch cultures

When a recombinantEscherichia coli XL1-Blue harboring pSYL105 was cultured in a complex medium, a poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) (PHB) concentration of 7.16 g/L was obtained in 48 h. However, a PHB concentration of only 0.91 g/L was obtained in 60 h by culturing in a defined medium. Also, fed-batch culture in a defined medium resulted in considerably lower PHB accumulation than in a complex medium. With the aim to produce a high concentration of PHB at a reduced medium cost, we examined 10 complex nitrogen sources for their ability to promote PHB synthesis in a defined medium. Tryptone, casamino acids, and casein hydrolysate promoted PHB synthesis to a higher extent than the others tested. PHB synthesis was also enhanced during fedbatch cultures when a defined medium was supplemented with various complex nitrogen sources. With tryptone supplementation a PHB concentration of 66.7 g/L could be obtained in 44 h. Yeast extract was less effective for promoting PHB synthesis than tryptone. Corn steep liquor, which did not enhance PHB synthesis significantly, could promote PHB synthesis considerably when supplemented together with yeast extract in both flask and fed-batch cultures.     

A Sensitive Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Method for Detection of Polyimide Degradation by Microorganisms

An electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique was evaluated for monitoring microbial degradation of electronic packaging polyimides. The microbial inoculum was a mixed culture of fungi isolated previously from deteriorated polyimides. The active fungal consortium comprised Aspergillus versicolor, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and a Chaetomium species. After inoculation, fungal growth on the polyimides resulted in distinctive EIS spectra indicative of polymer insulation failure, which directly related to polymer integrity. Degradation appeared to occur in a number of steps and two distinctive stages in the decline of film resistance were observed in the inoculated EIS cells within the 2 and 10 weeks after inoculation. The early stage of resistance decrease may be related to the ingress of water molecules and ionic species into the polymeric materials, whereas the second stage probably resulted from partial degradation of the polymers by fungal growth on the polymer film. The relationship between changes of impedance spectra and microbial degradation of the polymer was further supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations of fungi growing on the surface of the inoculated polyimides. Our data indicate that the EIS can be used in detection of early degradation of resistant polymers and polyimides that are susceptible to biodeterioration.     

Enhanced production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by filamentation-suppressed recombinantEscherichia coli in a defined medium

Fed-batch cultures of recombinantEscherichia coli strains were carried out for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) (PHB) in a chemically defined medium. TheE. coli strains used were XL1-Blue, harboring pSYL105, a stable high-copy number plasmid containing theAlcaligenes eutrophus polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) genes, and XL1-Blue, harboring pSYL107, which is pSYL105 containing theE. coli ftsZ gene to suppress filamentation. With XL1-Blue(pSYL105) the final cell mass and PHB concentration obtained in 62 h were 102 and 22.5 g/L, respectively. Fed-batch culture of XL1-Blue(pSYL107) under identical conditions resulted in a final cell mass and PHB concentration of 127.5 and 48.2 g/L, respectively. The PHB contents obtained with XL1-Blue(pSYL105) and XL1-Blue(pSYL107) were 22.1 and 37.8%, respectively. Therefore, PHB was more efficiently produced in a defined medium by employing filamentation-suppressed recombinantE. coli.     

Assessment of the Whole Environmental Degradation of Oxo-Biodegradable Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) Films Designed for Mulching Applications

The current paper is aimed at understanding the environmental fate of linear low density polyethylenes (LLDPE) films designed for mulching purposes and loaded with different pro-degradant additives. These were analyzed, upon exposure to natural sunlight for a period intended to mimick a general crop season in the mediterranean region. The selected samples underwent a relatively low extent of degradation as monitored by carbonyl index, molecular weight variation, extractability by solvent, changes in the onset of the decomposition temperature and crystallinity. The tendency to biodegradation of outdoor exposed LLDPE was then assessed under different environmental compartments including soil medium, aqueous medium as well as in axenic culture of white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium. That fungus is known to be effective in the degradation of recalcitrant organic materials and plastic items. During the soil burial biodegradation test, lasted for 27?months, samples specimen were withdrawn at time intervals and characterized by means of structural and thermal analysis. These analytical assessments allowed to monitor any progress of oxidative degradation as a direct effect of the incubation in an active microbial environment. Analogous characterizations were carried out at the end of the biodegradation tests in aqueous medium and in P. chrysosporium axenic cultures. Data presented here are in keeping with the initial abiotic oxidation via a free radical chain reaction promoted by a pro-degradant additive acting on hydroperoxides and peroxide moieties present initially in the polymer bulk. This step was followed by a free radical cascade reactions leading to degradation once the oxidation started under relatively mild conditions (sunlight exposure). During the incubation step in soil, the abiotically degraded samples underwent significant variation in the level of oxidation and degradation with respect to the detected starting values. Indications were gained on the synergistic effect of a random fashion microbial metabolization coupled to biotically mediated oxidation of the original abiotically fragmented samples. Similar results were obtained in the biodegradation tests carried out in the aqueous media and in presence of P. chrysosporium axenic cultures. These evidences are suggesting the role of natural occurring microorganisms in promoting both partial oxiditation and degradation of LLDPE samples in combination with contextual mineralization process of the oxidized fragments.