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Environmental Degradation of Microbial Polyhydroxyalkanoates and Oil Palm-Based Composites

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Abstract

This paper investigates the degradation of polyhydroxyalkanoates and its biofiber composites in both soil and lake environment. Time-dependent changes in the weight loss of films were monitored. The rate of degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)], poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-23 mol% 4HB)] and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-9 mol% 3HV-co-19 mol% 4HB)] were investigated. The rate of degradation in the lake is higher compared to that in the soil. The highest rate of degradation in lake environment (15.6 % w/w week−1) was observed with P(3HB-co-3HV-co-4HB) terpolymer. Additionally, the rate of degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB-co-38 mol% 3HV)] was compared to PHBV biofiber composites containing compatibilizers and empty fruit bunch (EFB). Here, composites with 30 % EFB displayed the highest rate of degradation both in the lake (25.6 % w/w week−1) and soil (15.6 % w/w week−1) environment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Malaysia and Universiti Sains Malaysia for the research grant to this work. Y. S. Salim acknowledges Ms. Hanisah Kamilah for her guidance in statistical analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Minden, Penang, Malaysia

    A. Sharon, S. Vigneswari & A. A. Amirul

  2. School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Minden, Penang, Malaysia

    Y. S. Salim & M. N. Mohamad Ibrahim

  3. Department of Chemistry, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Y. S. Salim

  4. Malaysian Institute of Pharmaceuticals and Nutraceuticals, MOSTI, 11900, Minden, Penang, Malaysia

    S. Vigneswari & A. A. Amirul

Authors
  1. Y. S. Salim
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  2. A. Sharon
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  3. S. Vigneswari
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  4. M. N. Mohamad Ibrahim
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  5. A. A. Amirul
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Correspondence to A. A. Amirul.

Additional information

Y. S. Salim and A. Sharon contributed equally to this work.

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Salim, Y.S., Sharon, A., Vigneswari, S. et al. Environmental Degradation of Microbial Polyhydroxyalkanoates and Oil Palm-Based Composites. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 167, 314–326 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-012-9688-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-012-9688-6

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