Study of the biodegradability of polylactide fibers in wastewater treatment processes

M. Rom; J. Fabia; K. Grübel; E. Sarna; T. Graczyk; J. Janicki

doi:10.14314/polimery.2017.834

Published : 2021-01-15

Vol. 62 No. 11-12 (2017)

Study of the biodegradability of polylactide fibers in wastewater treatment processes

M. Rom J. Fabia K. Grübel E. Sarna T. Graczyk J. Janicki

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14314/polimery.2017.834

Abstract

The aim of this research was to study what happens to polylactide (PLA) fibers when they are released to wastewater systems. Samples of PLA fibers were immersed in activated sludge and subjected to typical activated sludge treatment in mesophilic (36 °C) and thermophilic (56 °C) conditions for up to 4 weeks. The characteristics of the surface and cross-sections of PLA fibers were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), showing the settlement of the microorganisms on the surface of PLA fibers immersed in sludge and also the erosion of the material with time. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis provided information on small changes in the crystalline structure of PLA fibers, and the results of tensile tests proved only partial degradation of PLA material treated in the activated sludge system during the processing time. The study confirmed that the standard processing of wastewater in the activated sludge system, in both mesophilic and thermophilic variants, is insufficient for the biodegradation of PLA. Therefore, PLA microplastics can be released from wastewater treatment plants.

Keywords

polylactide ; wastewater treatment ; microplastics ; fibers polilaktyd ; oczyszczanie ścieków ; mikrocząstki polilaktydu ; włókna

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Rom, M., Fabia, J., Grübel, K., Sarna, E., Graczyk, T., & Janicki, J. (2021). Study of the biodegradability of polylactide fibers in wastewater treatment processes. Polimery, 62(11-12), 834–840. https://doi.org/10.14314/polimery.2017.834

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M. Rom mrom@ath.bielsko.pl

Affiliation
University of Bielsko-Biala, Institute of Textile Engineering and Polymer Materials, Willowa 2, 43-309 Bielsko-Biała, Poland

J. Fabia

Affiliation
University of Bielsko-Biala, Institute of Textile Engineering and Polymer Materials, Willowa 2, 43-309 Bielsko-Biała, Poland

K. Grübel

Affiliation
University of Bielsko-Biala, Institute of Environmental Protection and Engineering, Willowa 2, 43-309 Bielsko-Biała, Poland

E. Sarna

Affiliation
University of Bielsko-Biala, Institute of Textile Engineering and Polymer Materials, Willowa 2, 43-309 Bielsko-Biała, Poland

T. Graczyk

Affiliation
University of Bielsko-Biala, Institute of Textile Engineering and Polymer Materials, Willowa 2, 43-309 Bielsko-Biała, Poland

J. Janicki

Affiliation
University of Bielsko-Biala, Institute of Textile Engineering and Polymer Materials, Willowa 2, 43-309 Bielsko-Biała, Poland