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Comparison of kinetic biodegradation of potato starch based and corn starch based low density polyethylene compound in aerated sludge

Mehdi Borghei, Shahrzad Khoramnejadian, Bijan Hejazi

The biodegradability rates of two different kinds of polyethylene bonded with corn and potato starch are studied in this paper. While it is usual to use soil as the environment for biodegradation, an aerated sludge tank was used in this studywhich offers a richermicrobialmediumand increases the rate of biodegradation. The biodegradability is determined by two ways: first, comparing differences in the weight change of two samples, one placed inside distilled water and the other placed in aerated sludge tank. Second test for biodegradation is by examination of FTIR spectroscopy. Through FTIR spectroscopy, the biodegradability rate and reduction in some of the existing bonds in polymer before and after placing the samples inside aerated sludge tank is exhibited and the consumption of polymer by microorganisms is also revealed. Kinetic correlations for both samples are presented which shows that the kinetic rate closely follows limiting first order reactions.