Hi everyone,
I need your specialty in my research.I would like to understand what kind of compounds are created as the by-product of polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene and PET plastic degradation by microorganisms. As, I have control ( soil without plastic and mineral salt media+ plastic) I can then figure out if my plastic degraded or not. So I was not sure LC-MS is the right technique or GC-MS. I searched that GC-MS is good for volatile compounds. In case the plastic was not degraded into small fragments,
1- Does GC-MS able to identify that?
2- the large molecules may derived from polymeric plastic were not block the column?
3- In case LC-MS is probable what kind of column or solvent should be used?
Many thanks for your help in advance.
Please read this article in detail.
Regards.
1- http://www.polymerjournals.com/pdfdownload/872185.pdf
Analysis of Plastics by Martin J. Forrest (Rapra Technology Limited)
Many thanks Muhammad,
I have read it before, but I could not find my answer.
Dear Navid Taghavi,
For determining the production of biodegradation of polymers, there is not any specific way. According to the type of polymers and the degree of biodegradation, various type of component such as polymer with lower molecular weight, oligomers, dimer, monomer and finally some gases like CO, CO2 or CH4 are produced.
1.For measuring the gases, you can do the test according the ASTM standard that I Have attached.
2. For proving that the molecular weight has been decreased during biodegradation, GPC analysis can be used.
3. FTIR analysis also can be used if new functional groups are appeared or the main functional groups of polymers have been disappeared or decreased.
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