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Adhikari, Basudam
- Microbial Degradation of Surface Modified Low Density Polyethylene Film
Authors
1 Materials Science Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721302, IN
2 Materials Science Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur - 721302, IN
3 Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur - 721302, IN
Source
Indian Science Cruiser, Vol 24, No 3 (2010), Pagination: 20-32Abstract
Polyethylene is one of the most commonly used polymeric materials. The purpose of this work is to biodegrade pre-processed low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films of low surface energy in presence of microbes. The work was done in three steps: first the LDPE film surface was modified by high voltage corona treatment that increased the surface energy as well as wettability through introduction of oxidized groups like -OH, >C=0 and -COOH into the LDPE chains to help the biodegradation by microorganisms. Secondly, the surface -OH groups of modified LDPE films were further esterified with glycolic acid by electrolysis. Lastly, the degradation of LDPE films was studied in culture medium using microbes at two different temperatures 22±3°C and 37°C. ATR-IR spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, and tensile testing analyzed the modified LDPE films. It was found that the glycolic acid modified LDPE film degraded much faster as compared to only corona treated and untreated LDPE films.
Keywords
Polyethylene Film, Corona Discharge, Chemical Modification, Biodegradation.- Polymers as Hi-Tech Materials
Authors
1 Materials Science Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721302, IN