Biodegradation of Water-Soluble Polymers by Wastewater Microorganisms: Challenging Laboratory Testing Protocols.

ABSTRACT: For water-soluble polymers (WSPs) that enter environmental systems at their end-of-life, biodegradability is a key functionality. For the development and regulation of biodegradable WSPs, testing methods that are both scientifically validated and economically practicable are needed. Here, we used respirometric laboratory tests to study the biodegradation of poly(amino acids), poly(ethylene glycol), and poly(vinyl alcohol), together with appropriate low-molecular-weight reference substrates. We varied key protocol steps of commonly used testing methods, which were originally established for small molecules and tested for effects on WSP biodegradation. We found that avoiding aeration of the wastewater inoculate prior to WSP addition, incubating WSP with filter-sterilized wastewater prior to

SUBMITTER: Kintzi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11360367 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature