Studies on biodegradation of LDPE — observation of LDPE films scattered in agricultural fields or in garden soil

Ohtake, Yoshito; Kobayashi, Tomoko; Asabe, Hitoshi; Murakami, Nobunao

doi:10.1016/s0141-3910(97)00032-3

Cited by 70 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…This two -step biodegradation behavior of thermally oxidized LDPE samples has been observed also in mature compost biodegradation tests. Therefore, in contrast to previous studies [41,43] showing only limited and slow conversion to CO 2 of UV -irradiated LDPE samples, samples with no preaging and additive -free LDPE samples in natural soils, very large degrees of mineralization have been recorded although these were obtained over a relatively long time frame ranging between 22 and 30 months [42] .…”

Section: Biometric Measurementscontrasting

confidence: 60%

Oxo‐Biodegradable Polymers: Present Status and Future Perspectives

Chiellini

Corti

D’Antone

et al. 2011

Handbook of Biodegradable Polymers

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Section: Biometric Measurementscontrasting

confidence: 60%

Oxo‐Biodegradable Polymers: Present Status and Future Perspectives

Chiellini

Corti

D’Antone

et al. 2011

Handbook of Biodegradable Polymers

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“…Also, in case of mayonnaise bottles, made of LDPE by blow molding process and buried in soil for over 32 years, when their surfaces in contact with the soil have been compared with those not in contact with the soil, the decrease of molecular weight and the remarkable tailing of molecular weight distribution to lower molecular weight side have been recognized at the surfaces in contact with the soil 5. Furthermore, the observation of the degraded and whitened parts in contact with the soil, with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), has revealed the presence of the colonies of LDPE‐degrading bacteria 3, 15. When these notably degraded bottles have been observed in detail after they were cleaned with hydrofluoric acid, numerous pores generated by enzyme degradation with ∼ 1 to 2 μm in length and 0.5 ∼ 1 μm in width have been discerned 13, 15.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodegradability and degrading microbes of low‐density polyethylene

Watanabe

Ohtake

Asabe

et al. 2008

J of Applied Polymer Sci

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We have isolated and identified three types of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) degrading microbes, for the first time, from soil which was sampled from the field. It has been studied that thermooxidized or UV irradiation LDPE are degraded when incubated with mold (Volke‐sepulveda et al., J Appl Polym Sci 2002, 83, 305; Yamada‐Onodera et al., Polym Degrad Stab 2001, 72, 323); however, there was no article so far reporting the isolation of these particular microbes from the environment. Here, the mechanism of biodegradation of LDPE by the three microbes is described. We used LDPE film, which was buried in soil and biodegraded, and the surrounding soil, located at Nogi Town, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan as the sources of sample for this study. The sample was added to a liquid medium, together with powder of a photodegraded, antioxidant‐free LDPE film, as the sole source of carbon. After enriched cultivation, three strains of microbes were separated from the medium. They were classified on the basis of LDPE degrading capabilities, confirmed by OH generation and degradation traces. Using “Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology,” the genera of the microbes were identified as Bacillus circulans, Bacillus brevies, and Bacillus sphaericus, which belong among the Natto bacteria, common in soil. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009

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“…Many synthetic materials like polyolefins are not degraded by microorganisms in the environment, which contributes to their long life-time of hundreds of years [2][3][4]. Among the polyolefins, LDPE is more susceptible to the attack of microorganisms in determined conditions, like described by Ohtake et al [5,6]. One of the viable alternatives to accelerate the attack of microorganisms to LDPE is the addition of natural polymers, like starch, to guarantee at least a partial biodegradation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%