Wplyw procesow fotodegradacji i biodegradacji na wlasciwosci opakowaniowej folii z polietylenu

Folię opakowaniową z polietylenu poddano działaniu promieniowania UV oraz połączonemu wpływowi promieni UV i mikroflory glebowej. Stopień degradacji folii określano na podstawie zmian naprężenia maksymalnego przy zerwaniu. Otrzymane wyniki poddano analizie wariancji. Z przeprowadzonych badań wynika, że: 1) mikroflora gleby wpływa w sposób statystycznie istotny na degradację folii PE, naświetlanej uprzednio UV; 2) naprężenie maksymalne przy zerwaniu jest dobrą miarą zmian właściwości mechanicznych folii PE; 3) model regresyjny, w którym czas naświetlania występuje w postaci wielomianu stopnia trzeciego, najlepiej opisuje trójfazowe zmiany właściwości badanej folii pod wpływem promieni UV.The polyethylene packaging film was exposed to UV-radiation combined with or without soil microflora. Tensile strength was used as a measure of the film degradation. The results were analysed by means of the regression models. From the obtained results it follows that: 1) the soil microflora has statistically significant impact on the degradation of polyethylene film subjected to UV; 2) the tensile strength is a useful measure of the mechanical changes in the polyethylene film; 3) the 3rd order polynomial seems to be adequate model for describing the three-phase changes of the tensile strenght of polyethylene film subjected to UV radiation

Biodegradation behavior of textiles impregnated with Ag and TiO2 nanoparticles in soil

Increasing global consumption of textile goods poses serious environmental problems that are present throughout the products life-cycles. With a trend of Fast Fashion, clothes became consuming goods that are discarded in huge amounts into landfills where they rot generating undesirable gases which contribute to environmental pollution and greenhouse effect. A large-scale centralized composting is a possible alternative to harmful landfilling. It is well known that different textile fibers exhibit diverse biodegradation behavior. Unlike most of the synthetic fibers, natural and particularly cellulosic fibers are prone to biodegradation. However, the finishing and thus, the presence of different chemicals on fiber surfaces may affect their biodegradation performance. Recent progress in the production of textiles impregnated with different metal and metal oxide nanoparticles is more oriented toward end-use achievements than on their environmental and health safety impacts. Despite the urgency to establish their environmental risk assessment, there are only few papers dealing with biodegradation behavior of such textile nanocomposites under terrestrial conditions. Therefore, this chapter is aimed to provide an insight into these results and to stress the necessity of extended research in this field taking into consideration that various characteristics of nanoparticles are relevant for their biodegradation behavior

The influence of corona treatment and impregnation with colloidal TiO2 nanoparticles on biodegradability of cotton fabric

This study discusses the effect of corona pre-treatment at atmospheric pressure and subsequent loading of colloidal TiO2 nanoparticles on the biodegradation behavior of cotton fabric. Biodegradation performance of the control and finished samples was evaluated by standard soil burial tests in predetermined periods of 3, 9 and 18 days. Color and breaking strength measurements were utilized for assessment of biodegradation progress. Morphological and chemical changes induced by biodegradation were analysed by SEM and FT-IR analyses, respectively. Colorimetric, morphological and chemical changes induced by the biodegradation process were slightly less prominent on corona pre-treated cotton fabric impregnated with TiO2 nanoparticles compared to corona treated and control cotton fabric. Although the breaking strength of all samples significantly decreased after 18 days of soil burial, this decline was the least evident on the sample impregnated with TiO2 nanoparticles. However, taking into account the extent of these differences, the influence of TiO2 nanoparticles on biodegradation rate of cotton fabric, which underwent a combined treatment corona/impregnation with TiO2 nanoparticles, could be considered as insignificant. These results confirm that chemical modification of cotton fabrics with plasma and subsequent loading of TiO2 still maintained sustainability of cellulose fibres

Negative influence of Ag and TiO2 nanoparticles on biodegradation of cotton fabrics

Recently, many efforts have been made to efficiently impregnate different textile materials with metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in order to provide antimicrobial, UV protective or self-cleaning properties. Evidence of their environmental risks is limited at this point. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of Ag and TiO2 nanoparticles on biodegradation of cotton fabrics. Biodegradation behavior of cotton fabrics impregnated with Ag and TiO2 NPs from colloidal solutions of different concentrations was assessed according to standard test method ASTM 5988-03 and soil burial test. Degradation of cotton fabrics was also evaluated by enzymatic hydrolysis with cellulase. The morphology of fibers affected by biodegradation was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In order to get better insight into biodegradation process, dehydrogenase activity of soil has been determined. Ag and particularly TiO2 nanoparticles suppressed the biodegradation of cotton fabrics. The dehydrogenase activity of soil with cotton fabrics impregnated with TiO2 nanoparticles was the weakest. Severe damage of cotton fibers during the biodegradation process was confirmed by SEM