Morphology of Penicillium funiculosum During Biodegradation of Poly (β-hydroxybutyrate-co-β-hydroxyvalerate) [PHBV] with Poly (ε-Caprolactone) [PCL] Blends

• Published in: Journal of polymers and the environment Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 834 - 840
• Main Authors: Vergara-Porras, Berenice, Gracida-Rodríguez, Jorge Noel, Pérez-Guevara, Fermín
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-12-2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bacteria; Bioavailability; Biodegradation; Blends; Carbon; Carbon dioxide; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Fungi; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Materials Science; Morphology; Original Paper; Penicillium funiculosum; Polymer blends; Polymer Sciences; Polymers; Solvents; Polymer blend; Blend biodegradation; Mixing technique; Bioavailability index; Fungal morphology
• ISSN: 1566-2543; 1572-8919; 1572-8900
• DOI: 10.1007/s10924-011-0367-4

Blends of poly (β-hydroxybutyrate-co-β-hydroxyvalerate) with poly (ε-caprolactone) were produced using melt mixing and solvent casting techniques. The biodegradation of blends was tested based in the ASTM G21-90 using
Penicillium funiculosum
fungal specie. The CO
2
production during biodegradation was measured and fitted using the Gompertz model. Biodegradation of blends varies according to the mixing technique and the proportion of bacterial polymers in the blends. Although lag phase was larger, solvent-casted blends were easier to degrade due to their porous surface and relative lower crystallinity.
P. funiculosum
morphology during biodegradation appeared to be related to carbon availability i.e. larger and more complex conidiophores, more phialides per conidiophore and the presence of double-phialides, were found in blends with higher PHAs proportion.
P. funiculosum
morphology was independent to the blending technique used. Hence, morphology of
P. funiculosum
could be useful as a reference for carbon bioavailability of the blends.