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Biodegradation of polystyrene-graft-starch copolymers in three different types of soil

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Abstract

Materials based on polystyrene and starch copolymers are used in food packaging, water pollution treatment, and textile industry, and their biodegradability is a desired characteristic. In order to examine the degradation patterns of modified, biodegradable derivates of polystyrene, which may keep its excellent technical features but be more environmentally friendly at the same time, polystyrene-graft-starch biomaterials obtained by emulsion polymerization in the presence of new type of initiator/activator pair (potassium persulfate/different amines) were subjected to 6-month biodegradation by burial method in three different types of commercially available soils: soil rich in humus and soil for cactus and orchid growing. Biodegradation was monitored by mass decrease, and the highest degradation rate was achieved in soil for cactus growing (81.30 %). Statistical analysis proved that microorganisms in different soil samples have different ability of biodegradation, and there is a significant negative correlation between the share of polystyrene in copolymer and degree of biodegradation. Grafting of polystyrene on starch on one hand prevents complete degradation of starch that is present (with maximal percentage of degraded starch ranging from 55 to 93 %), while on the other hand there is an upper limit of share of polystyrene in the copolymer (ranging from 37 to 77 %) that is preventing biodegradation of degradable part of copolymers.

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Acknowledgment

This investigation was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia, through projects no. 172001 and 172062.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Innovation Center, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Vladimir Nikolic

  2. Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Sava Velickovic

  3. Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Aleksandar Popovic

Authors
  1. Vladimir Nikolic
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  2. Sava Velickovic
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  3. Aleksandar Popovic
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Correspondence to Vladimir Nikolic.

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Responsible editor: Zhihong Xu

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Nikolic, V., Velickovic, S. & Popovic, A. Biodegradation of polystyrene-graft-starch copolymers in three different types of soil. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 9877–9886 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2946-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2946-0

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