Biodegradation Bio-Based Polyester-Polyurethane Foams: Synthesis and Degradability by A. niger and A. clavatus

M. POLO; K. RUSSELL-WHITE; S. VAILLLARD; G. MEIRA; L. RIOS; D. ESTENOZ; M. SPONTÓN

BIODEGRADATION

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2023

0923-9820

In this article, the degradability by Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus clavatus of three biobasedpolyurethane (PU) foams is compared to previous degradability studies involving aPseudomonas sp. bacterium and similar initial materials (Spontón et al., 2013). First, three newpolyester-polyurethane foams were prepared from mixtures of castor oil (CO), maleated castoroil (MACO), toluene diisocyanate (TDI), and water. Then, their degradation tests were carriedout in an aqueous medium, and employing the two mentioned fungi, after their isolation fromthe environment. From the degradation tests, the following was observed: a) the insoluble (andslightly collapsed) foams exhibited free hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amine moieties; and b) thewater soluble (and low molar mass) compounds contained amines, carboxylic acids, andglycerol. The most degraded foam contained the highest amount of MACO, and therefore thehighest concentration of hydrolytic bonds. A basic biodegradation mechanism was proposedthat involves hydrolysis and oxidation reactions