Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biodeterioration of plasticized PVC/montmorillonite nanocomposites in aerobic soil environment

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Iranian Polymer Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of montmorillonite nanofillers, Cloisite Na+ and Cloisite 30B, on the biodeterioration of PVC-based nanocomposites plasticized by means of dioctyl adipate (DOA), dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and modified poly(propylene adipate) (PPA), in the aerobic environment of soil (soil burial test, time of exposure: 198 days). Tests were carried out at 25 ± 1 °C, under moisture-controlled (55 %) and aerobic conditions. The extent of the biodeterioration process was evaluated on the basis of changes in weight, tensile strength and elongation-at-break values. Finally, analysing chemical structures using FTIR and visual observation, both macroscopic and microscopic via scanning electron microscopy assisted in the evaluation process. The results of this study suggested that plasticized PVC/montmorillonite nanocomposites have an increased susceptibility for undergoing biological deterioration in comparison with plasticized PVC. In each instance, adding Cloisite 30B resulted in reducing the resistance of PVC/montmorillonite nanocomposites to the actions of microorganisms. In the case of Cloisite Na+ as the filler, results cannot be clearly quantified, although a negative influence prevailed, particularly a change in colour, whose change intensity was also dependent on the type of plasticizer, increasing in the following sequence: PVC/DOA/Cloisite Na+ > PVC/DOP/Cloisite Na+ > PVC/PPA/Cloisite Na+. However, each sample containing Cloisite Na+ achieved a lower rate of degradation (by normalised weight loss and FTIR) compared with nanocomposites containing Cloisite 30B. This can be attributed to the migration and accumulation of Cloisite Na+ on the surface of the nanocomposites particles where the former phenomenon producing a surface barrier which caused a reduction in the permeability of the material toward water and microorganisms, during the test.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Booth GH, Cooper AW, Robb JA (1968) Bacterial degradation of plasticized PVC. J Appl Bacteriol 31:305–310

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Dhand C, Das M, Sumana G, Srivastava AK, Pandey MK, Kim CG, Datta M, Malhotra BD (2010) Preparation, characterization and application of polyaniline nanospheres to biosensing. Nanoscale 2:747–754

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Yang BH, Bai YP, Cao YJ (2010) Effects of inorganic nano-particles on plasticizers migration of flexible PVC. J Appl Polym Sci 115:2178–2182

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Seil JT, Webster TJ (2011) Reduced Staphylococcus aureus proliferation and biofilm formation on zinc oxide nanoparticle PVC composite surfaces. Acta Biomater 7:2579–2584

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Motahari S, Dornajafi L, Fotovat Ahmadi I (2012) Migration of organic compounds from PET/clay nanocomposites: influences of clay type, content and dispersion state. Iran Polym J 21:669–681

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Wu G, Yang F, Tan Z, Ge H, Zhang H (2012) Synthesis of montmorillonite-modified acrylic impact modifiers and toughening of poly(vinyl chloride). Iran Polym J 21:793–798

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Li XH, Xiao Y, Wang BA, Lu YQ, Tang Y, Wang CJ (2011) Effects of nano-particles on resistance of DOP migration from flexible PVC. Adv Mater Res 160–162:401–406

    Google Scholar 

  8. Webb JS, Nixon M, Eastwood IM, Greenhalgh M, Robson GD, Handley PS (2000) Fungal colonization and biodeterioration of plasticized polyvinyl chloride. Appl Environ Microbiol 66:3194–3200

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Yabannavar A, Bartha R (1993) Biodegradability of some food-packaging materials in soil. Soil Biol Biochem 25:1469–1475

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Mersiowsky I, Weller M, Ejlertsson J (2001) Fate of plasticised PVC products under landfill conditions: a laboratory-scale landfill simulation reactor study. Water Res 35:3063–3070

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wypych G (2008) Handbook of material weathering, 4th edn. ChemTec Publishing, Toronto

    Google Scholar 

  12. Wang JL, Liu P, Qian Y (1996) Biodegradation of phthalic acid esters by acclimated activated sludge. Environ Int 22:737–741

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Fang CR, Long YY, Shen DS (2009) Comparison on the removal of phthalic acid diesters in a bioreactor landfill and a conventional landfill. Bioresour Technol 100:5664–5670

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Xie HJ, Shi YJ, Zhang JA, Cui Y, Teng SX, Wang SG, Zhao R (2010) Degradation of phthalate esters (PAEs) in soil and the effects of PAEs on soil microcosm activity. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 85:1108–1116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Baek JH, Gu MB, Sang BI, Kwack SJ, Kim KB, Lee BM (2009) Risk reduction of adverse effects due to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) by utilizing microbial degradation. J Toxicol Environ Health A 72:1388–1394

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Liang DW, Zhang T, Fang HH, He JZ (2008) Phthalates biodegradation in the environment. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 80:183–198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Jianlong W, Xuan Z, Weizhong W (2004) Biodegradation of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in soil bioaugmented with acclimated activated sludge. Process Biochem 39:1837–1841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Kim DY, Rhee YH (2003) Biodegradation of microbial and synthetic polyesters by fungi. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 61:300–308

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Pandey JK, Reddy KR, Kumar AP, Singh RP (2005) An overview on the degradability of polymer nanocomposites. Polym Degrad Stab 88:234–250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Lee S-R, Park H-M, Lim H, Kang TY, Li XC, Cho W-J, Ha C-S (2002) Microstructure, tensile properties, and biodegradability of aliphatic polyester/clay nanocomposites. Polymer 43:2495–2500

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Lee KM, Han CD (2003) Effect of hydrogen bonding on the rheology of polycarbonate/organoclay nanocomposites. Polymer 44:4573–4588

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Park HM, Lee WK, Park CY, Cho WJ, Ha CS (2003) Environmentally friendly polymer hybrids––part I––mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of thermoplastic starch/clay nanocomposites. J Mater Sci 38:909–915

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Wang SF, Song CJ, Chen GX, Guo TY, Liu J, Zhang BH, Takeuchi S (2005) Characteristics and biodegradation properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/organophilic montmorillonite (PHBV/OMMT) nanocomposite. Polym Degrad Stab 87:69–76

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Rizzarelli P, Puglisi C, Montaudo G (2004) Soil burial and enzymatic degradation in solution of aliphatic co-polyesters. Polym Degrad Stab 85:855–863

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Kovarova L, Kalendova A, Gerard JF, Malac J, Simonik J, Weiss Z (2005) Structure analysis of PVC nanocomposites. Macromol Symposia 221:105–114

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Kalendova A, Zykova J, Kovarova L, Slouf M, Gerard JF (2010) The effect of processing on the PVC/clay nanocomposites structure. In: 5th international conference on times of polymer (Top) and composites, vol 1255, pp 181–183

  27. Kaczmarek H, Bajer K (2007) Biodegradation of plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) containing cellulose. J Polym Sci Part B Polym Phys 45:903–919

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Lardjane N, Belhaneche-Bensemra N (2009) Migration of additives in simulated landfills and soil burial degradation of plasticized PVC. J Appl Polym Sci 111:525–531

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was created with support of Operational Programme Research and Development for Innovations co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and national budget of Czech Republic within the framework of the Centre of Polymer Systems project (Reg. Number: CZ.1.05/2.1.00/03.0111) and Internal Grant from TBU in Zlin no. IGA/FT/2014/005.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Polymer Systems, University Institute, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Nad Ovcirnou 3685, 760 01, Zlin, Czech Republic

    Marketa Julinova & Alena Kalendova

  2. Department of Environment Protection Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, nám. T.G.Masaryka 275, 762 72, Zlin, Czech Republic

    Marketa Julinova, Roman Slavik, Petr Smida & Jaromir Kratina

  3. Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, nám. T.G.Masaryka 275, 762 72, Zlin, Czech Republic

    Alena Kalendova

Authors
  1. Marketa Julinova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Roman Slavik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alena Kalendova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Petr Smida
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jaromir Kratina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roman Slavik.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Julinova, M., Slavik, R., Kalendova, A. et al. Biodeterioration of plasticized PVC/montmorillonite nanocomposites in aerobic soil environment. Iran Polym J 23, 547–557 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-014-0249-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-014-0249-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation