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Biodegradability of Epoxidized Soybean Oil Based Thermosets in Compost Soil Environment

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Abstract

In this study, bio-thermoset from epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) was prepared in the presence of methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride curing agent and 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole catalyst. The crosslink densities of the synthesized ESO are ranged from 0.109 × 10−3 to 0.308 × 10−3 mol/cm3. The ESO bio-thermosets were exposed to the soil-burial test for 8 months. Weight change and morphology of the degraded ESO specimens were assessed. It was found that the weight loss of ESO was governed by the materials compositions, crosslink density and the soil-burial exposure time. The 3 mm thickness ESO bio-thermosets with crosslink density of 0.109 × 10−3 mol/cm3 had fully biodegraded after soil-burial for 6 months. In addition, 16S rDNA sequencing was carried out to identify the soil microorganisms. It was suggested that Comamonas sp., Bacillus sp., Streptomyces sp. and Acinetobacter sp. are the possible soil microbes that degrade the ESO bio-thermosets in the compost soil environment.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Universiti Sains Malaysia Incentive Grant (Grant Number: 8021013), Research University Postgraduate Research Grant Scheme (USM-RU-PRGS; Grant Number: 8045001), the Ministry of Higher Education, Exploratory Research Grant Scheme (MOHE, ERGS; Grant Number: 6730084) and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, National Science Foundation (MOSTI, NSF) fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, 14300, Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

    W. S. Chow, S. G. Tan & Z. Ahmad

  2. Ecobiomaterial Research Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia

    K. H. Chia, N. S. Lau & K. Sudesh

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  1. W. S. Chow
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  2. S. G. Tan
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  3. Z. Ahmad
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  4. K. H. Chia
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  5. N. S. Lau
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  6. K. Sudesh
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Correspondence to W. S. Chow.

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Chow, W.S., Tan, S.G., Ahmad, Z. et al. Biodegradability of Epoxidized Soybean Oil Based Thermosets in Compost Soil Environment. J Polym Environ 22, 140–147 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-013-0615-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-013-0615-x

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