New insights into the microbial degradation of polyurethanes

Mahajan, Neha; Gupta, Pankaj Kumar

doi:10.1039/c5ra04589d

Cited by 111 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 114 publications

(140 reference statements)

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“…In experiments performed under similar conditions, Impranil degradation by the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis microspora was observed as a decrease in the carbonyl signal (CAO) and, although not mentioned by the authors, the spectrum also showed decreases in the signals at 1,540 and 1,260 cm Ϫ1 , which, as in our work, implies enzymatic attack on the urethane group (15). Attack on these functional groups, ester and urethane, has been suggested to be performed by bacterial hydrolytic enzymes, such as esterase, protease, and urease (4,8). In our work, evidence of the activity of fungal enzymes on Impranil biodegradation was also detected by GC-MS analysis after the incubation of Impranil with the best PU-degrading fungus C. pseudocladosporioides T1.PL.1, an approach not explored in any other previous work, to our knowledge.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

Biodegradative Activities of Selected Environmental Fungi on a Polyester Polyurethane Varnish and Polyether Polyurethane Foams

Álvarez-Barragán

Domínguez-Malfavón

Vargas-Suárez

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

189

111

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Polyurethane (PU) is widely used in many aspects of modern life because of its versatility and resistance. However, PU waste disposal generates large problems, since it is slowly degraded, there are limited recycling processes, and its destruction may generate toxic compounds. In this work, we isolated fungal strains able to grow in mineral medium with a polyester PU (PS-PU; Impranil DLN) or a polyether PU (PE-PU; Poly Lack) varnish as the only carbon source. Of the eight best Impranil-degrading strains, the six best degraders belonged to the Cladosporium cladosporioides complex, including the species C. pseudocladosporioides, C. tenuissimum, C. asperulatum, and C. montecillanum, and the two others were identified as Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium chrysogenum. The best Impranil degrader, C. pseudocladosporioides strain T1.PL.1, degraded up to 87% after 14 days of incubation. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis of Impranil degradation by this strain showed a loss of carbonyl groups (1,729 cm ؊1 ) and NOH bonds (1,540 and 1,261 cm ؊1 ), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed a decrease in ester compounds and increase in alcohols and hexane diisocyanate, indicating the hydrolysis of ester and urethane bonds. Extracellular esterase and low urease, but not protease activities were detected at 7 and 14 days of culture in Impranil. The best eight Impranil-degrading fungi were also able to degrade solid foams of the highly recalcitrant PE-PU type to different extents, with the highest levels generating up to 65% of dry-weight losses not previously reported. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of fungus-treated foams showed melted and thinner cell wall structures than the non-fungus-treated ones, demonstrating fungal biodegradative action on PE-PU. IMPORTANCEPolyurethane waste disposal has become a serious problem. In this work, fungal strains able to efficiently degrade different types of polyurethanes are reported, and their biodegradative activity was studied by different experimental approaches. Varnish biodegradation analyses showed that fungi were able to break down the polymer in some of their precursors, offering the possibility that they may be recovered and used for new polyurethane synthesis. Also, the levels of degradation of solid polyether polyurethane foams reported in this work have never been observed previously. Isolation of efficient polyurethane-degrading microorganisms and delving into the mechanisms they used to degrade the polymer provide the basis for the development of biotechnological processes for polyurethane biodegradation and recycling. P olyurethane (PU), one of the most versatile polymers invented by humans, is synthesized from a wide variety of precursors generating almost infinite types of materials, from elastomers and varnishes to highly resistant components, such as automotive parts, foams, semirigid plastics, and textile fibers. Due to their versatility, PUs are widely used in different human activities as a substit...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 55%

Biodegradative Activities of Selected Environmental Fungi on a Polyester Polyurethane Varnish and Polyether Polyurethane Foams

Álvarez-Barragán

Domínguez-Malfavón

Vargas-Suárez

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

189

111

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“…Because neither urethane nor amines or ammonium were detected by GC‐MS in the supernatants of the culture media, it is likely that these groups were consumed by the bacteria as soon as they were generated. Evidences supporting the action of esterase activities on PS‐PU biodegradation have been reported previously . As far as we know, evidence for the action of an amidase activity hydrolyzing the urethane group in a polymeric material has not been reported yet.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 75%

Preliminary study on the biodegradation of adipate/phthalate polyester polyurethanes of commercial‐type by Alicycliphilus sp. BQ8

Pérez-Lara

Vargas-Suárez

López-Castillo

et al. 2015

J of Applied Polymer Sci

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Accumulation of polyurethane (PU) waste has increased considerably due to its extensive use. Even though many efforts are being carried out to develop more biodegradable PU, the use of these new materials is far from being commercially available. Here, we analyzed the susceptibility of solid polyester polyurethanes (PS‐PU) of commercial‐type, to biodegradation by Alicycliphilus sp. BQ8, a polyurethanolytic bacterial strain. Four polyester polyols were synthesized from dipropylene glycol (DPG) or diethylene glycol (DEG), and adipic acid (ADA) or phthalic anhydride (PHA), and were combined with either 4,4′‐ and 4,2′‐methylene diphenyldiisocyanate (MDI) or 2,4‐ and 2,6‐toluene diisocyanate (TDI). Synthesized polyols and PUs were characterized. PU biodegradation was assessed by the capacity of the polymers to support bacterial growth, and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) analyses. Although all the synthesized PUs supported BQ8 growth, SEM analysis showed that PHA‐based PU foams were the most affected by bacterial growth. FTIR spectroscopy and GC‐MS analyses of bacterial treated PS‐PUs showed that they were attacked at ester and urethane groups, suggesting that esterase and amidase activities are involved. Extra‐cellular and membrane bound esterase activities were detected during the five days of analysis. Our results suggest that solid PHA‐based PUs might be more susceptible than ADA‐based PUs to microbial biodegradation in the environment. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 42992.

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“…Poly(urethane)s elastomer has constituted one of the most versatile classes of polymeric materials because of remarkable properties including flexibility, rigidness, thermal stability, diverse utility, and relatively low‐cost production. Thus, polyurethanes have been used in a broad range of applications including foams, coatings, adhesives, elastomers, furniture, sealants, synthetic leathers, membranes, and heat insulators to the biomedical products . Generally, poly(urethane) elastomer was synthesized using the polyaddition of diol (HOROH) and diisocyanates (NCOR′NCO) derivatives.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, polyurethanes have been used in a broad range of applications including foams, 1,2 coatings, 1,2 adhesives, 1,2 elastomers, 1,2 furniture, 2 sealants, 1 synthetic leathers, 2 membranes, 1,3 and heat insulators to the biomedical products. 1,3 Generally, poly(urethane) elastomer was synthesized using the polyaddition of diol (HO R OH) and diisocyanates (NCO R 0 NCO) derivatives. The selection of monomer structure is important to achieve the desired property of poly(urethane).…”

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confidence: 99%

Synthesis and physical properties of poly(urethane)s using vicinal diols derived from acrylate and styrene monomers

Akbulut

Yoshida

Yamada

et al. 2019

J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym. Chem.

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We describe the utilization of four kinds of diol derivatives, representing structural similarity to the well‐known and commercially available vinyl monomers such as acrylate, acrylamide, styrene, and N‐substituted maleimide. The vinyl monomers are readily converted by dihydroxylation reaction to afford the vicinal diol. The synthesis of poly(urethane)s was performed by the reaction of the vicinal diol with two model diisocyanates, including methylene diphenyl isocyanate (MDI) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) in the presence of dibutyltin dilaurate to form a series of poly(urethane)s, and the effect of vicinal diol containing a side chain inherited from vinyl monomers on their thermal and mechanical properties was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and tensile test. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 799–805

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New insights into the microbial degradation of polyurethanes

Abstract: Frequent and frequently deliberate release of plastics leads to accumulation of plastic waste in the environment which is an ever increasing ecological threat.

Cited by 111 publications

References 114 publications

Biodegradative Activities of Selected Environmental Fungi on a Polyester Polyurethane Varnish and Polyether Polyurethane Foams

Biodegradative Activities of Selected Environmental Fungi on a Polyester Polyurethane Varnish and Polyether Polyurethane Foams

Preliminary study on the biodegradation of adipate/phthalate polyester polyurethanes of commercial‐type by Alicycliphilus sp. BQ8

Synthesis and physical properties of poly(urethane)s using vicinal diols derived from acrylate and styrene monomers

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