The effect of temperature on the biodegradation test

The biodegradation of poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL), poly-β-(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), and poly-β-(hydroxybutyrate-co-β-valerate) (PHB-V) was assessed based on the mass retention when the polymers were incubated in soil compost at 46 and 24 °C. Biodegradation was greatest at 46 °C for the of three polymers studied. PHB and PHB-V showed similar biodegradation at both temperatures. The crystallinity and melting temperature of the polymers were determined by thermal analysis. PCL had the lowest crystallinity and PHB the highest. There was no correlation between crystallinity and the extend of polymer biodegradation.