Finding a Benign Plasticizer to Enhance the Microbial Degradation of Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Evaluated by PHB Degrader Microbulbifer sp. SOL66

Abstract

As a biodegradable plastic, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) has relatively poor mechanical properties, preventing its wider use. Various plasticizers have been studied to improve the mechanical properties of PHB; however, due to the slow degradation speed in the soil environment and lack of evaluation methods, studies on the degradation of PHB with plasticizers are rarely reported. In this study, by applying Microbulbifer sp. SOL66, which is able to degrade PHB very quickly, a benign plasticizer was evaluated with good properties and good degradability, not inhibiting microbial activities. Eight different plasticizers were applied with PHB and Microbulbifer sp. SOL66, PHB film containing 10% and 20% tributyl citrate showed significant biodegradability of PHB. It was confirmed that tributyl citrate could increase the speed of PHB degradation by Microbulbifer sp. SOL66 by 88% at 1 day, although the degree of degradation was similar after 3 days with and without tributyl citrate. By the analysis of microbial degradation, physical, chemical, and mechanical properties, tributyl citrate was shown not only to improve physical, chemical, and mechanical properties but also the speed of microbial degradation.

Sustainable Synthesis of Biopolymer Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from Agro-residue by Brevibacterium casei with Emphasis on Degradation Analysis

“…These peaks were attributed to the (020) and (110) diffraction planes, indicating the presence of orthorhombic a-form crystals of PHB. 43 The thermal analysis of PHB was in accordance with the following report which was efficacious with the results observed. According to the thermal analysis studies performed by Silva et al 44 The thermal degradation of PHB films was characterized by the random cleavage of the ester bond (C=O) at temperatures exceeding 200°C.…”

Submission to Journal of Polymers and the Environment Evaluation of Thermal Properties and Crystallinity in PHB-Based Systems – A DoE Approach

“…0.6 µm) were used as fillers. Plasticisers used in this study were proven to be compatible with PHB [21][22][23]. Plasticiser and fillers were used as received.…”

Improved electro‐actuation property of dielectric elastomer composites regulated by one‐dimensional CaCu3Ti4O12@TiO2 core–shell construction

“…In recent years, researchers employed low-molecular weight plasticizers such as dibutoxyethoxyethyl formal, 17 naphthenic oil, 18 glycerol triesters, 19 tributyl citrate, 20 dibutyl phthalate, 21 and so forth, to decrease the Y of DE composites. Lu et al utilized epoxidized soybean oil as a plasticizer to reduce the Y (from 1.90 to 0.65 MPa) and thus improve the electro-actuated strain (from 1.45% to 8.89%) of epoxidized natural rubber-based composites.…”