Finding a Benign Plasticizer to Enhance the Microbial Degradation of Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Evaluated by PHB Degrader Microbulbifer sp. SOL66

As a biodegradable plastic, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) has relatively poor mechanical properties, preventing its wider use. Various plasticizers have been studied to improve the mechanical properties of PHB; however, due to the slow degradation speed in the soil environment and lack of evaluation met...

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Published in:Polymers 2022-09, Vol.14 (17), p.3625
Main Authors: Cho, Jang Yeon, Kim, Su Hyun, Jung, Hee Ju, Cho, Do Hyun, Kim, Byung Chan, Bhatia, Shashi Kant, Ahn, Jungoh, Jeon, Jong-Min, Yoon, Jeong-Jun, Lee, Jongbok, Yang, Yung-Hun
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodegradability
Bioplastics
Cell culture
Degradation
Ethanol
Mechanical properties
Microorganisms
Physical properties
Plasticizers
Plastics
Polyhydroxybutyrate
Pore size
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Summary:As a biodegradable plastic, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) has relatively poor mechanical properties, preventing its wider use. Various plasticizers have been studied to improve the mechanical properties of PHB; however, due to the slow degradation speed in the soil environment and lack of evaluation methods, studies on the degradation of PHB with plasticizers are rarely reported. In this study, by applying Microbulbifer sp. SOL66, which is able to degrade PHB very quickly, a benign plasticizer was evaluated with good properties and good degradability, not inhibiting microbial activities. Eight different plasticizers were applied with PHB and Microbulbifer sp. SOL66, PHB film containing 10% and 20% tributyl citrate showed significant biodegradability of PHB. It was confirmed that tributyl citrate could increase the speed of PHB degradation by Microbulbifer sp. SOL66 by 88% at 1 day, although the degree of degradation was similar after 3 days with and without tributyl citrate. By the analysis of microbial degradation, physical, chemical, and mechanical properties, tributyl citrate was shown not only to improve physical, chemical, and mechanical properties but also the speed of microbial degradation.
ISSN:2073-4360
2073-4360
DOI:10.3390/polym14173625