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Degradation of polyesteramides during composting under standard and isothermal conditions

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Abstract

Polyesteramides based on ɛ-caprolactam and ɛ-caprolactone differing in the content of ester-amide structural units were subjected to biodegradation — composting in a big compost pile under controlled conditions (controlled composting) and in small composters at a steady temperature of 60 °C (isothermal composting). Both types of composting resulted in degradation of the polyesteramides depending on copolymer composition, isothermal composting being more robust. The contribution of abiotic hydrolysis to the degradation of polyesteramides was studied at 60 °C in buffer solutions with pH 5.4, 7.4 and 8.4. The prevailing effect of abiotic hydrolysis over biological one was shown at 60 °C. Ester bonds in polyestramide chains were preferentially cleaved; therefore, the scope of degradation increased with the content of ester units in the copolymer.

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Abbreviations

AH:

abiotic hydrolysis

CLA:

ɛ-caprolactam

IC:

isothermal composting at 60 °C

CC:

controlled composting

CLO:

ɛ-caprolactone

PEA:

poly(esteramide)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymers, Institute of Chemical Technology, 166 28, Prague, Czech Republic

    J. Brožek, I. Prokopová & D. Chromcová

  2. Department of Solid State Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, 166 28, Prague, Czech Republic

    J. Náhlík

  3. Institute of Microbiology, v.v.i, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic

    V. Šašek & P. Erbanová

Authors
  1. J. Brožek
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  2. V. Šašek
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  3. I. Prokopová
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  4. D. Chromcová
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  5. J. Náhlík
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  6. P. Erbanová
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Correspondence to J. Brožek.

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Brožek, J., Šašek, V., Prokopová, I. et al. Degradation of polyesteramides during composting under standard and isothermal conditions. Folia Microbiol 54, 451–456 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-009-0063-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-009-0063-0

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