Evaluation of Wet Bacterial Cellulose Degradation in Different Environmental Conditions
Michely Sayumi Alves Camargo, Ana Paula Cercal, Victória Fonseca Silveira, Ketlin Critine Batista Mancinelli, Regina Maria Miranda Gern, Michele Cristina Formolo Garcia, Giannini Pasiznick Apati, A. Schneider, Ana Paula Testa Pezzin
Abstract
Abstract The pollution caused by polymer waste is becoming a serious problem, because many petrochemical polymers persist in the environment and pollute it. In contrast to non‐degradable polymers, natural polymers derived from renewable sources are environment‐friendly and sustainable. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an abundant and reproducible biopolymer that is biocompatible and biodegradable and has a wide range of applications in different industrial segments. In order to evaluate the degradation behavior of BC, wet membranes are exposed to different environmental conditions. BC membranes are synthesized by Komagataeibacter hansenii and purified in NaOH solution. The degradation of the membranes are evaluated at different times in soil (SO), estuarine environment (EE), natural weathering (NW), and accelerated aging chamber (AAC). The samples are examined by visual analysis (VA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance (FTIR/ATR) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis. In general, in the soil and estuary environment, degradation is more intense, facilitating the presence of microorganisms in the media that promote microbial attack. The TGA and FTIR analyses, together with a VA, allowed the kinetics of membrane degradation to occur in the following order: SO > EE > NW > AAC.