Environmental degradability of polycaprolactone under natural conditions

Krasowska, Katarzyna; Heimowska, Aleksandra; Morawska, Magda

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/20161000048

Cited by 20 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Only a limited number of studies focus on the degradability of biodegradable polymers in water sources and show disputable results as different methods were used for following the degradability . In many studies, samples were placed in a perforated basket in seawater (SW), and weight change of the leftover material is noted making no demarcation between the weight loss due to biodegradation or simply due to the disintegration of the samples to microplastics getting lost in the sea as secondary microplastics . The studies under controlled conditions using standard characterization techniques are required to understand the degradation behavior and to provide a comparative basis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fate of So‐Called Biodegradable Polymers in Seawater and Freshwater

et al. 2017

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The stability of polymers with C—C and stable C—heteroatom backbones against chemicals, hydrolysis, temperature, light, and microbes has challenged society with the problem of accumulation of plastic waste and its management worldwide. Given careless disposal of plastic waste, large amounts of plastic litter accumulate in the environment and disintegrate into microplastics. One of the questions frequently raised in the recent times is if so‐called biodegradable polymers can substitute conventional polymers for several applications and help to tackle this challenge. The answer is not so simple as biodegradability is a certified property occurring only under certain environmental conditions and therefore requires systematic study. As a first step, this study focusses on comparative degradation studies of six polymers (five taken from the so‐called biodegradable polyesters, including poly(lactic‐ co ‐glycolic acid) (PLGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA), poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), Ecoflex, and one well‐known non‐degradable polymer poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) in artificial seawater and freshwater under controlled conditions for 1 year. Only amorphous PLGA shows 100% degradation as determined by weight loss, change in molar mass with time, NMR, electron microscopy, and high‐performance liquid chromatography. This is a step forward in understanding the degradability of polyesters required for the design of environmentally friendly novel polymers for future use.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fate of So‐Called Biodegradable Polymers in Seawater and Freshwater

et al. 2017

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“…Previous studies of other groups reported the investigation of the biodegradability of poly(ε-caprolactone) in several biotic environments, including river and lake waters, sewage sludge, farm soil, paddy soil, creek sediment, roadside sediment, pond sediment, and compost [38,39].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodegradable Oligoesters of ε-Caprolactone and 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-Furancarboxylic Acid Synthesized by Immobilized Lipases

et al. 2019

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Following the latest developments, bio-based polyesters, obtained from renewable raw materials, mainly carbohydrates, can be competitive for the fossil-based equivalents in various industries. In particular, the furan containing monomers are valuable alternatives for the synthesis of various new biomaterials, applicable in food additive, pharmaceutical and medical field. The utilization of lipases as biocatalysts for the synthesis of such polymeric compounds can overcome the disadvantages of high temperatures and metal catalysts, used by the chemical route. In this work, the enzymatic synthesis of new copolymers of ε-caprolactone and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid has been investigated, using commercially available immobilized lipases from Candida antarctica B. The reactions were carried out in solvent-less systems, at temperatures up to 80 °C. The structural analysis by MALDI TOF-MS, NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of cyclic and linear oligoesters, with maximal polymerization degree of 24 and narrow molecular weight distribution (dispersity about 1.1). The operational stability of the biocatalyst was explored during several reuses, while thermal analysis (TG and DSC) indicated a lower thermal stability and higher melting point of the new products, compared to the poly(ε-caprolactone) homopolymer. The presence of the heterocyclic structure in the polymeric chain has promoted both the lipase-catalyzed degradation and the microbial degradation. Although, poly(ε-caprolactone) is a valuable biocompatible polymer with important therapeutic applications, some drawbacks such as low hydrophilicity, low melting point, and relatively slow biodegradability impeded its extensive utilization. In this regard the newly synthesized furan-based oligoesters could represent a “green” improvement route.

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“…Similarly, negative effects of unloaded chitosan nanoparticles on plant growth have been already reported, being related to biofilm formation and reduced water uptake . Another important aspect is the degradation of PCL in the environment, which can result from chemical hydrolysis of ester bonds or from microorganisms that secret extracellular enzymes, such as cutinase, lipase and esterase . Kah and colleagues evaluated the fate of atrazine‐loaded PCL nanocapsules in two agricultural soils, demonstrating that the nanoencapsulation did not change the degradation of atrazine .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…50 Another important aspect is the degradation of PCL in the environment, which can result from chemical hydrolysis of ester bonds or from microorganisms that secret extracellular enzymes, such as cutinase, lipase and esterase. 51,52 Kah and colleagues evaluated the fate of atrazine-loaded PCL nanocapsules in two agricultural soils, demonstrating that the nanoencapsulation did not change the degradation of atrazine. 53 This finding could be attributed to the rapid release of atrazine in comparison with the herbicide degradation or to biotic or abiotic degradation of the atrazine associated with the nanocarriers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atrazine nanoencapsulation improves pre‐emergence herbicidal activity against Bidens pilosa without enhancing long‐term residual effect on Glycine max

Preisler

Pereira

Campos

et al. 2019

Pest Management Science

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BACKGROUND Poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) nanocapsules (NC + ATZ) are an efficient carrier system for atrazine and were developed as an alternative to reduce the harmful environmental effects of this herbicide. Here, we analyzed the pre‐emergence herbicidal activity of NC + ATZ against Bidens pilosa and evaluated its residual effect on soybean plants after different periods of soil treatment with the formulations. RESULTS In contrast to non‐nanoatrazine, NC + ATZ treatment led to very high mortality rates of B. pilosa seedlings even after a tenfold dilution, which suggests that atrazine nanoencapsulation improved its pre‐emergence herbicidal activity. In a short‐term assay (17 days), soil treatment with all atrazine‐containing formulations resulted in intense toxicity to soybean plants. NC + ATZ at 200 g ha−1 had the same inhibitory effects on the physiological and growth parameters of soybean plants compared with non‐nanoatrazine at 2000 g ha−1, which suggests that atrazine nanoencapsulation increased the short‐term residual effect of the herbicide. In a long‐term assay (60 days), a gradual recovery of soybean plants from atrazine phytotoxicity was observed. When comparing the effects of nano‐ and non‐nanoatrazine at the same concentrations, the growth and physiological parameters of soybean plants were mainly affected to the same extent. This indicates that encapsulation of atrazine into poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) nanocapsules did not enhance the long‐term residual effect of the herbicide on soybean. CONCLUSION NC + ATZ could be applied for efficient weed control without additional phytotoxicity to susceptible crops compared with non‐nanoatrazine, provided that a safe interval is respected from atrazine application to sowing. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

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Environmental degradability of polycaprolactone under natural conditions

Cited by 20 publications

References 18 publications

Fate of So‐Called Biodegradable Polymers in Seawater and Freshwater

Fate of So‐Called Biodegradable Polymers in Seawater and Freshwater

Biodegradable Oligoesters of ε-Caprolactone and 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-Furancarboxylic Acid Synthesized by Immobilized Lipases

Atrazine nanoencapsulation improves pre‐emergence herbicidal activity against Bidens pilosa without enhancing long‐term residual effect on Glycine max

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