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© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Bio-fillers are intensively studied for advanced polymer composite circular design and production. In this context, the algal biomass may be considered an important and relatively low-cost resource, when harvested as a by-product from wastewater treatment plants. The biomass of the algal species Chlorella vulgaris is frequently used in this type of environmental process, and its macro constituents’ composition ranges from around 15–25% carbohydrates, 10–20% lipids, and 50–60% proteins. Poly (styrene-butadiene-styrene) (SBS) copolymers have a matrix composed of glassy polystyrene domains connected by flexible polybutadiene segments. Although the physical-mechanical properties of SBS copolymers recommend them for many industrial applications, they have the drawback of low biodegradability. This study aimed to assess the aerobic biodegradability of polymer composites by integrating biomass from Chlorella vulgaris at varying mass percentages of 5, 10, and 20% into SBS copolymer composites. Biodegradation tests were conducted under industrial composting conditions (58 °C and 50% relative humidity) for 180 days. The biodegradability of materials was evaluated by measuring the CO2 produced in each vessel during the study period. Potential correlations between the amount of carbon dioxide released and the percentage of biomass added to the polymer matrix were examined. Structural and morphological changes were assessed using Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Physical and chemical testing revealed a decrease in sample density after the industrial composting test, along with noticeable changes in melt flow index (MFI). The observed physical and chemical changes, coupled with FTIR, SEM, and DSC data, indicate increased cross-linking and higher porosity in biodegraded polymer structures with higher biomass content. This behavior is likely due to the formation of cross-linked connections between polymer chains and polypeptide chains resulting from protein degradation, enhancing connections between polystyrene units facilitated by peptide bonds with the benzene units of the styrene blocks within the polymer matrix.

Details

Title
Influence of Biogenic Material Content on the Biodegradability of Styrene-Butadiene Composites with Incorporated Chlorella vulgaris Biomass
Author
Bumbac, Marius 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Nicolescu, Cristina Mihaela 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Zaharescu, Traian 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Bumbac, Costel 4   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Manea, Elena Elisabeta 4 ; Ionescu, Ioana Alexandra 4 ; Gurgu, Ion Valentin 2 ; Bogdan-Catalin Serban 5 ; Buiu, Octavian 5   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Dumitrescu, Crinela 6 

 Faculty of Science and Arts, Valahia University of Targoviste, 13 Aleea Sinaia, 130004 Targoviste, Dambovita, Romania; [email protected] (M.B.); [email protected] (C.D.); Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 13 Aleea Sinaia, 130004 Targoviste, Dambovita, Romania; [email protected] (T.Z.); [email protected] (I.V.G.) 
 Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 13 Aleea Sinaia, 130004 Targoviste, Dambovita, Romania; [email protected] (T.Z.); [email protected] (I.V.G.) 
 Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 13 Aleea Sinaia, 130004 Targoviste, Dambovita, Romania; [email protected] (T.Z.); [email protected] (I.V.G.); National Institute for Electrical Engineering, Advanced Research (INCDIE ICPE CA), 313 Splaiul Unirii, 030138 Bucharest, Romania 
 National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology-ECOIND, 57-73 Drumul Podu Dambovitei, District 6, 060652 Bucharest, Romania; [email protected] (C.B.); [email protected] (I.A.I.) 
 IMT Bucharest, National Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies, 126A Erou Iancu Nicolae, 077190 Voluntari, Romania; [email protected] (B.-C.S.); [email protected] (O.B.) 
 Faculty of Science and Arts, Valahia University of Targoviste, 13 Aleea Sinaia, 130004 Targoviste, Dambovita, Romania; [email protected] (M.B.); [email protected] (C.D.) 
First page
1241
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
20734360
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3053149701
Copyright
© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.