BIODEGRADATION OF POLYCAPROLACTONE BY MICROORGANISMS FROM AN INDUSTRIAL COMPOST OF HOUSEHOLD REFUSE

Authors
LEFEBVRE F DAVID C VANDERWAUVEN C
Citation
F. Lefebvre et al., BIODEGRADATION OF POLYCAPROLACTONE BY MICROORGANISMS FROM AN INDUSTRIAL COMPOST OF HOUSEHOLD REFUSE, Polymer degradation and stability, 45(3), 1994, pp. 347-353
Citations number
13
Categorie Soggetti
Polymer Sciences
Journal title
Polymer degradation and stability → ACNP
ISSN journal
01413910
Volume
45
Issue
3
Year of publication
1994
Pages
347 - 353
Database
ISI
SICI code
0141-3910(1994)45:3<347:BOPBMF>2.0.ZU;2-V
Abstract
The rate of biodegradation of polycaprolactone samples, hydroxy- (M(n) = 4000 and 37000) and methoxy- (M(n) = 4000) terminated, by mixed cul tures of micro-organisms from a suspension of compost, and by a pure c ulture of an actinomycete isolated from compost, has been monitored by the measurement of oxygen consumption. The dependence on the molecula r weight of the polymer suggests that initiation of the degradation oc curs in the vicinity of chain ends. The effect of the sample crystalli nity and of the methoxy termination is discussed.