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Assessing the time dependence of AOPs on the surface properties of Polylactic Acid
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This study assessed how advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) alter the surface properties of polylactic acid (PLA) over time, examining changes relevant to enzymatic or bacterial degradation. It found that surface treatment is necessary to enable biodegradation of this polymer in environmental conditions.
Abstract Plastics are artificial synthetic organic polymers that have been used in every area of daily life. However, because of their slow degradation rate their use is contentious. The treatment of the surface of the sample is considered necessary as enzymatic or bacterial attach is not possible if the plastic surface environment is not ideal. The main topic of this work is the pre-treatment of samples of Polylactic acid (PLA) using different Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) in order to modify their surface in such a way as to foster the adhesion of enzymes or bacteria for further biodegradation. The Advanced Oxidation Processes that have been used are Ultrasonication, UV photodegradation and Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma. After the treatments, the surfaces were characterized by Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), Drop Contact Angle (DCA), Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Both Ultrasonication and UV have a significant impact on surface characteristics by removing the oxygen content of the polymer, although in distinct ways, whereas plasma uncovers the oxygen groups at the surface.
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Assessing the Time Dependence of AOPs on the Surface Properties of Polylactic Acid
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Researchers investigated the effects of three advanced oxidation processes -- ultrasonication, UV photodegradation, and dielectric barrier discharge plasma -- on the surface properties of polylactic acid (PLA), finding that both ultrasonic and UV treatments altered surface chemistry in ways that could promote enzymatic and bacterial attachment for subsequent biodegradation.
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Researchers studied how different types of UV-simulated aging affect the ability of polylactic acid microplastics to adsorb and release bisphenol A. The study found that aging conditions changed the surface properties of the biodegradable plastic, altering its interaction with this common environmental contaminant. The findings suggest that even biodegradable microplastics can act as carriers of harmful chemicals depending on their degradation state.
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Researchers used UV and hydrogen peroxide to simulate environmental aging of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, finding that PLA microplastics undergo significant surface and structural changes during weathering that alter their environmental behavior and persistence.
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Researchers evaluated ultrasonication, UV photodegradation, and plasma treatment as pre-processing methods to enhance the biodegradability of polylactic acid (PLA) plastic, finding that all three alter surface chemistry and oxidation in ways that could help microorganisms more effectively break down the polymer.
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