Marine biodegradation of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate] elastic fibers in seawater: dependence of decomposition rate on highly ordered structure.

ABSTRACT: Here, we report the marine degradability of polymers with highly ordered structures in natural environmental water using microbial degradation and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) tests. Three types of elastic fibers (non-porous as-spun, non-porous drawn, and porous drawn) with different highly ordered structures were prepared using poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-16 mol%-4-hydroxybutyrate] [P(3HB-co-16 mol%-4HB)], a well-known polyhydroxyalkanoate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicated that microorganisms attached to the fiber surface within several days of testing and degraded the fiber without causing physical disintegration. The results of BOD tests revealed that more than 80% of P(3HB-co-16 mol%-4HB) was degraded by microorganisms in the ocean. T

SUBMITTER: Omura T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10766686 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature