biodegradation

The chemical composition of cell membranes of microscopic fungi destroying polymeric materials is analyzed. The concentrations of the major chemical components – phospholipids, glycans, and amines – in nine types of fungi are estimated. The measured ratios of these components provide an estimate of the hydrophobic properties of conidia, controlling microorganism adhesion to polymer surface and subsequent degradation of polymeric materials.

In this paper the contributors show the value of application of kinetic methods for the estimation of biocide activity. The authors have developed methods of quantitative estimation of biocide efficiency independent of its solubility in water. It is found that inhibited kinetics of microscopic fungal growth on nutriments with biocides is described by a logistic equation. They suggest parameters for the characterization of biocide efficiency.

This review is accumulating the information about biodamages and protection of textile materials and fibers. The contributors made a special emphasis on the problems of cotton fiber biodamaging, bast fiber biodamaging, biodamaging of artificial fibers, wool fiber biodamaging, change of structure and properties of wool fibers by microorganisms, and on the methods of textile material protection against damaging by microorganisms. The authors are also discussing the mechanism the natural polymer materials degradation.

Polyethylene (PE) is a pollutant packaging and mulch material. Therefore, it is necessary to raise its oxo-biodegradability by additives. Oxo-biodegradation is the degradation of PE in two steps: oxidation followed by microorganisms biodegradation. In this study, starch and cellulose are compared with synthetic additives. The results reveal that starch and cellulose cannot increase oxygen absorption and oxygenation as good as synthetic additives. However, they increase water absorption and make the surface of the bulk polymer more porous.

The influence of model biological medium on the properties and structure of epoxy-polyurethane (EPU) ferrocene compositions has been investigated by physical-mechanical IR-spectroscopic and X-ray methods. It has been established that the EPU compositions biodegrade most intensively after 1 month of incubation, accompanied by a decline in strength at 80–92 % break.

Reactions proceeding at ambient temperature very promptly and selectively, as it occurs in live organisms, imitation of the wildlife processes, and, eventually, study of mechanism of enzymes action are important challenges of contemporary chemistry. This short review gives information on recent achievements in the field of enzymatic catalysis of oxidation of hydrocarbons. The literature material was gathered using the Thomson Reuters electronic database (Web of Science) and mostly covers the last decades.