Lignin and starch as potential inductors for biodegradation of films based on poly(vinyl alcohol) and protein hydrolysate

The objective of this work was to study the biodegradation of blow-moulded films of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/protein hydrolysate (PH) which contain biodegradation inductors of the starch (S) and lignin (LI) types. These increase the biodegradation rate of PVA while preserving or improving the technical and usage properties of blends. The aim of the work was to reach the maximum breakdown rate so that rapid disintegration of PVA could take place at a wastewater treatment plant. The biological material chosen was activated sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. Preparation of the blends required that a plasticiser be used, in this case glycerol (G). This allowed for successful processing but prolonged the lag phase of PVA breakdown as well as reducing its final biodegradation percentage. The influence of G, in this respect, was not affected by incorporating PH. S and LI reduced the influence of the plasticiser but caused a breakdown rate comparable to PVA itself. Contrarily, after adapting biomass to PVA, applying G produced a PVA breakdown rate three times greater, albeit with a lag phase prolonged fivefold. However, due to the duration of breakdown (the period above the retention time of wastewater during activation), this effect was not positive. The addition of PH to the blends mentioned did not exhibit any clear favourable influence. Adding S resulted in a shorter lag phase, in addition to which the degradation rate increased by approximately 1.5 times. Combining LI and S distinctly accelerated the degradation of a blend, although a disadvantage of doing so is an incomplete breakdown of the substrate, which lowers the final biodegradation percentage. Therefore, an eventual compromise was arrived at, this being a blend of PVA/G PH S. Its breakdown time is half that of pure PVA, and the films produced, from a mechanical standpoint, are more convenient. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.