We are trying to test the biodegradability of LDPE using some isolates. We dissolved LDPE plastic bags completely in heated xylene, blended the resulted paste and washed it using 70% ethanol. The powder was then dried overnight in a hot oven. The problem is that we couldn’t dissolve the LDPE powder in the media intended to use for testing biodegradability. Have anyone here got the same problem or have an idea on how to solve it?
Dear Seedahmed Mohammed, PE's are apolar polymers, it is not expected to be soluble in polar solvents such as water. Usually it requires high temperatures and hydrocarbon solvents. For the biodegradability, you may use spectroscopic techniques on solid samples, or extracted products after the bio-attack. My Regards
Dear Abdelkader BOUAZIZ
thank you very much for the information. Actually, we are following the protocols mentioned in several published research. But, seems like they used the PE powder as a suspension in their media, not as a solution, which is not good for our experiment. So we will need to change our method based on your suggestions.
Thanks again for the comment.
An elegant process for dissolution and precipitation has been reported employing a switchable hydrophilicity solvent (N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine) that dissolves LDPE in its non-polar form at elevated temperate. Upon cooling of the solution and with the addition of CO2 and water, the solvent becomes polar and the LDPE precipitates.164 After filtration to remove the precipitated polymer, CO2 and water is removed by mild heating to obtain the solvent in a non-polar form for reuse.
From Article Beyond Mechanical Recycling: Giving New Life to Plastic Waste
Johannes Auer
Thank you very much for the informative response. If I understood you correctly, the final products will be the precipitated form of LDPE and the non-polar solvent. I need a homogeneous LDPE solution in a medium that will be used to grow microorganisms. Unfortunately, a LDPE suspension will not work for me.
Thanks again for sharing the review
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
- Nano