Wastewater

Esterase

Engineering

Biofilm

Ecology

Bacteria

Biology

Bacillus licheniformis

Biodegradation

Activated sludge

Telecommunications

Biochemistry

Computer science

Food science

Compost

Polymer

Waste management

Genetics

Organic chemistry

Bacillus subtilis

Protease

Degradation (telecommunications)

Polycaprolactone

Microbiology

Enzyme

Chemistry

Microorganism

Chemical oxygen demand

Lipase

Biochemical oxygen demand

International Journal of Biological Macromolecules

The present article presents the results of research on the susceptibility of polylactide, poly(ɛ-caprolactone) and mixtures to biodegradation in conditions imitating natural extracts of compost, activated sludge, sea and river water, determined by the biochemical oxygen consumption by microorganisms and susceptibility to enzymatic degradation with the use of enzyme solutions of fungal microbial origin. Analyzes of both types of degradation were carried out over a period of seven days and in four environments: compost, activated sludge, river and sea water, and four enzymatic solutions containing proteinase K, protease, esterase, and lipase. The amount of oxygen consumed by microorganisms in the presence of the tested films was determined, as well as the weight loss determined after the samples were incubated in enzymatic solutions. Images of the surface of individual samples, taken by fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, confirm the formation of bacterial biofilm and the results of biochemical oxygen consumption by microorganisms, or weight loss. It was shown that the compost and activated sludge extract as well as the enzymes proteinase K from Engyodontium album (synonym Tritirachium album) and protease from Bacillus licheniformis had the greatest impact on the biodegradation of the tested materials.

Enzymatic degradation and biofilm formation during biodegradation of polylactide and polycaprolactone polymers in various environments