ISSN:
1572-8900
Keywords:
solid waste
;
composting
;
methanogenesis
;
degradation
;
cellulose acetate
;
biodegradability
;
anaerobic bioreactor
;
biodegradation testing
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
,
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
Notes:
Abstract Cellulose acetate (CA) films with degree of substitution (d.s.) values of 1.7 and 2.5 were exposed to biologically active in-laboratory composting test vessels maintained at approximately 53 °C. The CA 1.7- and 2.5-d.s. films (thickness values of ∼0.5–1.0 and 2.0 mil, respectively) had completely disappeared by the end of 7- and 18-day exposure time periods in the biologically active bioreactors, respectively. The relatively small CA film weight loss observed in the poisoned control test vessels allows the conclusion that CA film erosion during the composting exposures resulted, at least in part, from biologically mediated processes. Under strictly anaerobic conditions, an active methanogenic inoculum was developed by acclimation of a sewage sludge to a synthetic municipal solid waste (SMSW) mixture at 42°C. The CA 1.7-d.s. film samples (0.5- to 1.0-mil thickness) were exposed in anaerobic serum bottles containing a 25% solids loading of SMSW in which methanogenic activity was rapidly established after introducing of the developed inoculum. For exposures of 30 days only small visually distinguishable fragments of the CA 1.7-d.s. films were recovered. In contrast, exposure of the CA 1.7-d.s. film to a poisoned control test vessel resulted in negligible weight loss. Therefore, degradation of the CA 1.7-d.s. films upon exposure to the anaerobic bioreactors was due, at least in part, to biologically mediated processes.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01418207
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