Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Anaerobic Biodegradation of Blends Based on Polyvinyl Alcohol

  • Published:
Journal of Polymers and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The presented work deals with blends composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and biopolymers (protein hydrolysate, starch, lignin). PVA does not belong to biologically inert plastics but its degradation rate (particularly under anaerobic conditions) is low. A potential solution to the issue problem lies in preparation of blends with readily degradable substrates. We studied degradation of blow-molded films made of commercial PVA and mentioned biopolymers in an aqueous anaerobic environment employing inoculation with digested activated sludge from the municipal wastewater treatment plant. Films prepared in the first experimental series were to be used for comparing biodegradation of blends modified with native or plasticized starch; in this case effect of plasticization was not proved. The degree of PVA degradation after modification with native or plasticized starch increases in a striking and practically same manner already at a starch level as low as approximately 5 wt.%. Films of the second experimental series were prepared as additionally modified with protein hydrolysate and lignin. Only lignin-modified samples exhibited a somewhat lower degree of biodegradation but regarding the measure of lignin present in blend this circumstance is not essential. Level of biodegradation with all discussed films differed only slightly—within range of experimental error.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gartiser S, Wallrabenstein M, Stiene M (1998) J Environ Polym Degr 6:159–173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Křesálková M, Kupec J, Kolomazník K (2001) Plasty a kaučuk (in Czech) 38:295–298

    Google Scholar 

  3. Kolomazník K, Mládek M, Langmaier F, Janáčová D (2000) J Am Leather Chem Assoc 95:43–54

    Google Scholar 

  4. Hoffmann J, Řezníčková I, Rozsypalová L, Julinová M, Alexy P, Bakoš D (2003) Plasty a kaučuk (in Czech) 40:295–302

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Alexy P, Bakoš D, Hanzelová S, Koukolíková L, Kupec J, Charvátová K, Chiellini E, Cinelli P (2003) Polym Test 22:801–809

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ayukawa Y, Shinya S, Kakekawa T, Ito M (1971) Pat US 3625746, Tokyo, Japan

  7. Novamont SpA (1995) Pat US 5462981, Milan, Italy

  8. Bastioli C (1998) Macromol Symp 135:193–204

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Griffin GJL (ed) (1994) Particulare starch based products. Chemistry and technology of biodegradable polymers. Chapman and Hall, pp 18–46

  10. Lim SW, Jung IK, Lee KH, Jin BS (1999) Eur Polym J 35:1875–1881

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Alexy P, Bakoš D, Kolomazník K, Javoreková S, Podstránska G, Kršiak M, Matej M (1999) International workshop on environmentally plastics. Smolenice, Slovak Republic

    Google Scholar 

  12. Sun XZS, Kim HR, Mo XQ (1999) J Am Oil Chem Soc 76:117–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Park SK, Hettiarachchy NS (1999) J Am Oil Chem Soc 76:1201–1205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Zhang J, Mungara P, Jane J (2001) Polymer 42:2569–2578

    Google Scholar 

  15. Huang HC, Chang TC, Jane J (1999) J Am Oil Chem Soc 76:1101–1108

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Otaigbe JU, Goel H, Babcock T, Jane J (1999) J Elastom Plast 31:56–71

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Otey FH, Mark AM, Mehltretter CL, Russell CR (1974) Ind Eng Chem 13:90–92

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Wang XJ, Gross RA, McCarthy SP (1995) J Environ Polym Degr 3:161–167

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Lawton JL, Fanta GF (1994) Carbohydr Polym 23:275–280

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Chen L, Imam SH, Gordon SH, Green RV (1997) J Environ Polym Degr 5:111–117

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Chiellini E, Cinelli P, Imam SH, Mao L (2001) Biomacromolecules 2:1029–1037

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This work was accomplished with financial support by research projects of the Ministry of Youth, Education and Sport of the Czech Republic No. MSM 7088352101.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment Protection Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University, Nám. TGM 275, 762 72, Zlín, Czech Republic

    Jiří Pšeja, Petr Hruzík & Jan Kupec

  2. Institute of Process Control and Applied Informatics, Faculty of Applied Informatics, Tomas Bata University, Nad Stráněmi 4511, 760 05, Zlín, Czech Republic

    Hana Charvátová

  3. Department of Food Engineering and Chemistry, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University, Nám. T.G.M. 275, 762 72, Zlín, Czech Republic

    Josef Hrnčiřík

Authors
  1. Jiří Pšeja
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hana Charvátová
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Petr Hruzík
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Josef Hrnčiřík
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jan Kupec
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jan Kupec.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pšeja, J., Charvátová, H., Hruzík, P. et al. Anaerobic Biodegradation of Blends Based on Polyvinyl Alcohol. J Polym Environ 14, 185–190 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-006-0009-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-006-0009-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation