BIODEGRADATION OF POLYCAPROLACTONE IN PLANT TREATMENT ACTIVE SLUDGE

The object of this study was the degradation of polycaprolactone films in a living composting environment with plant treatment active sludge . The incubation of polymer samples took place in the compost for a pe riod up to 3 months. There are presented the characteristic parameters of plant treatment active sludge: temperature, pH, dry mass and activ ity of dehydrogenesis and their influence on degradation of polycaprol actone is discussed. The changes of weight, tensile strength, microhar dness and morphology during experiment were tested. Enzymatic activity is resulted in surface erosion. Microscopical observations show deter ioration of polycaprolactone surface. Hydrolysis (''bulk process'') is also contributed (onset of weight loss). The decreasing of weight and mechanical properties are observed after each period of incubation. T he increase in the microhardness during first period of biodegradation can be directly proportional to the increase in crystallinity, becaus e amorphous regions are degraded first what is confirmed by microscopi cal observation. The complete degradation of polycaprolactone in compo st with plant treatment active sludge in living environment takes plac e after short period of time (3 month).