Microbial Degradation Behavior in Seawater of Polyester Blends Containing Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx)
Hitoshi Sashiwa,
Ryuji Fukuda,
Tetsuo Okura,
Shunsuke Sato,
Atsuyoshi Nakayama
Affiliations
Hitoshi Sashiwa
BDP Group, New Buisiness Development Department, Kaneka Co., 5-1-1, Torikai-Nishi, Settsu, Osaka 566-0072, Japan
Ryuji Fukuda
BDP Group, New Buisiness Development Department, Kaneka Co., 5-1-1, Torikai-Nishi, Settsu, Osaka 566-0072, Japan
Tetsuo Okura
BDP Processing Technology Development Team, Plastics Molding & Processing Technology Development Group, Kaneka Co., 5-1-1, Torikai-Nishi, Settsu, Osaka 566-0072, Japan
Shunsuke Sato
BDP Group, Biotechnology Development Laboratories, Kaneka Co., 8-1 Miyamae-cho, Takasago, Hyogo 676-8688, Japan
Atsuyoshi Nakayama
Biomolecule Design Research Group, Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 1-8-31, Midorigaoka, Ikeda, Osaka 563-8577, Japan
The microbial degradation behavior of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) and its compound with several polyesters such as poly(butylene adipate-co-telephtharate) (PBAT), poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), and polylactic acid (PLA) in seawater was tested by a biological oxygen demand (BOD) method. PHBHHx showed excellent biodegradation in seawater in this study. In addition, the biodegradation rate of several blends was much influenced by the weight ratio of PHBHHx in their blends and decreased in accordance with the decrement of PHBHHX ratio. The surface morphology of the sheet was important factor for controlling the biodegradation rate of PHBHHx-containing blends in seawater.
