Biodegradation of low density polyethylene/starch films exposed to soil burial

Abstract This paper illustrates the aim to introduce biodegradable vegetable filler in synthetic polymers to prepare novel biodegradable composites. Low density polyethylene/alkali treated corn flour (LDPE/ATCF) composites were prepared by reactive extrusion using a twin-screw extruder. The microstructure, thermal properties and tensile properties were evaluated and compared with virgin LDPE. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed a decrease in the hydrophilic nature of corn flour (CF) after alkali treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs showed good dispersion between matrix and filler. The tensile and elongation at break decreased by increasing the filler content in the composites. However, the Young’s modulus increased with the increase in filler content. The biodegradation of composites was studied in the environment using the soil burial test for 6 months. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed an increase of the melting enthalpy (ΔHm) and crystallinity of LDPE with evidence of degradation. The biodegradability of the composites was enhanced with increasing ATCF content in the matrix. This result was supported by weight loss and degraded surface of composites observed through morphological studies. From the results, we conclude that the use of ATCF as filler in LDPE reduces pollution problems. This is advantageous for both the economy and the environment.

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Natural weather, soil burial and sea water ageing of low-density polyethylene: Effect of starch/linear low-density polyethylene masterbatch

Journal of Applied Polymer Science ◽

10.1002/app.38769 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 129 (1) ◽

pp. 449-457 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

M. Elanmugilan ◽

P. A. Sreekumar ◽

N. K. Singha ◽

Mamdouh A. Al-Harthi ◽

S. K. De

Keyword(s):

Sea Water ◽

Low Density Polyethylene ◽

Low Density ◽

Linear Low Density Polyethylene ◽

Soil Burial

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Studies on the Biodegradability of Linear Low-Density Polyethylene–Dextrin Blends using Vibrios from the Benthic Environment

Progress in Rubber Plastics and Recycling Technology ◽

10.1177/147776060902500301 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 129-139

Author(s):

Zeena P. Hamza ◽

K.F. Anna Dilfi ◽

Thomas Kurian ◽

Saritha G. Bhat

Keyword(s):

Culture Medium ◽

Thermal Studies ◽

Low Density Polyethylene ◽

Low Density ◽

Particle Sizes ◽

Linear Low Density Polyethylene ◽

Soil Burial ◽

Benthic Environment

Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) was blended with dextrin of different particle sizes (100, 200, and 300 mesh). Various compositions were prepared, and mechanical and thermal studies were carried out. The biodegradability of these samples was verified using culture medium containing vibrios (amylase-producing bacteria) which were isolated from the marine benthic environment. Soil burial tests of these samples were also conducted. Biodegradability tests on these blends indicate that they are partially biodegradable.

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Thermal properties and degradability of low density polyethylene microcrystalline cellulose composites

Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials ◽

10.1177/0892705718766387 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 487-500 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yousef Ahmad Mubarak ◽

Raghda Talal Abdulsamad

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Thermal Properties ◽

Microcrystalline Cellulose ◽

Crystallization Temperature ◽

Nucleating Agent ◽

Low Density Polyethylene ◽

Low Density ◽

Scanning Calorimetry ◽

Soil Burial ◽

Cellulose Composites

The effect of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) on the thermal properties (melting and crystallization temperatures and percentage crystallinity) and degradation of low density polyethylene (LDPE)–MCC blends were investigated. Weight percentages of MCC were varied at 0, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 30 wt%. The thermal properties of the composites were studied using differential scanning calorimetry while the degradation test was carried out using soil burial method; the weight loss of LDPE/MCC composites was measured and analyzed over a period of 120 days. It has been found that the addition of MCC to LDPE increased the crystallization temperature from 99°C to 103.5°C and decreased the melting temperature from 117°C to 113.6°C. A rule of a nucleating agent has been given as an interpretation to this increase in the crystallization temperature and intensity of crystals by the increase of MCC content. The dramatic reduction was in the percentage crystallinity where the value reduced from 58% for neat LDPE to about 11% for LDPE/30 wt% MCC. On the other hand, the addition of MCC has a little effect on degradation of LDPE; the weight loss did not exceed 1.5% over a period of 120 days. It seems that even at high MCC concentration, LDPE long carbon chains restrict and increase the resistance to microorganism attack and hence, reduce the hydrolysis and degradability.

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Mechanical, Chemical and Morphological Investigations on the Degradation of Low-Density Polyethylene Films Under Soil-Burial Conditions

International Journal of Polymeric Materials ◽

10.1080/00914030903192377 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

pp. 73-86 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tabassum Mumtaz ◽

Kh. M. Mannan ◽

M. R. Khan

Keyword(s):

Low Density Polyethylene ◽

Low Density ◽

Soil Burial ◽

Polyethylene Films ◽

Morphological Investigations

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The influences of soil burial assessment on linear low-density polyethylene/Cyperus odoratus biocomposite

10.1063/5.0000423 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

N. A. Faris ◽

N. Z. Noriman ◽

S. T. Sam ◽

R. Hamzah ◽

Omar S. Dahham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Density Polyethylene ◽

Low Density ◽

Linear Low Density Polyethylene ◽

Soil Burial

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Effect of soil burial on silane treated and untreated kenaf fiber filled linear low-density polyethylene/polyvinyl alcohol composites

BioResources ◽

10.15376/biores.15.4.8648-8661 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 8648-8661

Author(s):

Ai Ling Pang ◽

Agus Arsad ◽

Mohsen Ahmadipour ◽

Hanafi Ismail ◽

Azhar Abu Bakar

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Surface Morphology ◽

Polyvinyl Alcohol ◽

Tensile Properties ◽

Low Density Polyethylene ◽

Low Density ◽

Linear Low Density Polyethylene ◽

Melt Mixing ◽

Soil Burial ◽

Burial Duration

In recent decades, natural fibers have become widely used with petroleum based polymers such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) because of their light weight, lower cost, and inherent biodegradability. In the present work, linear low-density polyethylene/polyvinyl alcohol (LLDPE/PVOH) composites with untreated kenaf and silane-treated kenaf at filler loadings of 0, 10, and 40 phr were prepared via the melt mixing process. The soil burial test was used to evaluate the degradability of the composites for different durations (90 and 180 d). The tensile properties, surface morphology, chemical composition, percentage of weight loss, and crystallinity of the composites before and after degradation were evaluated. With increased kenaf loading and soil burial duration, all the composites showed a decrease in tensile properties. This was further confirmed by the changes in surface morphology and chemical structure of the buried composites. The increase in weight loss percentage and crystallinity after soil burial indicated that the longer burial duration had increased the degradation of composites. Composites with silane-treated kenaf exhibited lower degradability than that of composites with untreated kenaf after being buried for 90 and 180 d. This may be attributed to the improved adhesion of kenaf to the LLDPE/PVOH matrix via silane treatment.

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