Abstract
In this article, biodegradability of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) with potato starch was studied. Polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA) used as a compatibilizer. Samples with different levels of potato starch (as10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) with constant amount of PE-g-MA as 5% were prepared. In all samples amount of compatibilizer are the same. The effect of potato starch content on the thermal properties of blend studied with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Result show with increasing potato starch content, crystallization decreased. The biodegradation of blends was studied with soil burial and exposure to mould growth. Biodegradation determined by weight lose, the change in tensile properties of the sheets and mould growth. The results showed that with increasing potato starch content biodegradability of blends increased. Biodegradation of the samples due to soil burial after 8 months revealed that the weight of the blends was decreased by increasing the potato starch level.
Highlights
Plastics are one of the major parts of municipal waste[1]
Biodegradability of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)/potato starch compound estimated under soil burial and exposure to mould growth
Thermal properties of LDPE/potato starch compound determined the effect of potato starch on melting point and other properties of final product
Summary
Plastics are one of the major parts of municipal waste[1]. Most of the studies developed by blending petroleum based polymers with natural biodegradable materials that conserved the environment, petroleum reserves and landfills and decrease the CO2 production and generally culminate to the sustainable development. The amount of amylose and amylopectin are different between varies source of starch Rate on this two had an effect on product behavior. Like as the common plastics but it can be degraded by microorganism after disposal in the soil or other environments[10 ].Biodegradation occurs when microorganism such as bacteria or fungi consumes polymer in an aerobic or anaerobic environment. Weight loss is a common method to measure the rate of biodegradation of polymer samples. In this project biodegradable compound of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) with potato starch was made. Transferred to another sterile Petri dish and incubated in humidity greater than 90% and 30° C for 84 days. At the end of the second, fourth and eight month samples were removed of soil and weighted
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