Abstract
This work reports a method for reducing the longevity of the polymer content of Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) in the environment. In this approach biodegradability was imparted on polyethylene, a popular, low-cost commodity polymer, using starch additives. Corn starch and cassava starch in varying proportions were compounded with suitably prepared polyethylene powder and compression-moulded in steel dies. Alongside tensile test, biodegradability tests were carried out by burying samples for 28 days in two different soil types with different pH, fungi and bacteria load. Cassava starch additions were found to be better at imparting biodegradability. Also, alkaline soil types with higher bacteria load seemed a more favourable environment for accomplishing biodegradation in the starch-polyethylene composites.
Highlights
One of the natural consequences of today’s industrialised world and improved living standard is the rising tide municipal solid wastes (MSW)
This work reports a method for reducing the longevity of the polymer content of Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) in the environment
Corn starch and cassava starch in varying proportions were compounded with suitably prepared polyethylene powder and compression-moulded in steel dies
Summary
One of the natural consequences of today’s industrialised world and improved living standard is the rising tide municipal solid wastes (MSW). The wastes emanate from agricultural, industrial, residential, institutional, municipal, commercial, mining, recreational and other human activities [2]. If unchecked, these wastes have the capability of reversing the very gains of industrialisation and impairing on the quality of life of the citizenry. Social and environmental ills are directly attributable to ineffective MSW disposal. A study by Sam [3] for instance established the links between urban flooding problems and ineffective MSW man-
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