Biodegradation of Polyester Copolymers Containing Aromatic Compounds

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Abstract
For investigation of the microbial accessibility of polyesters based on 1,3-propanediol, a series of different polymer structures (homo, random, and block copolymers) were synthesized by polycondensation of terephthalic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, and 1,3-propanediol. The alcohol component, 1,3-propanediol, can be obtained from a biotechnological process from glycerol, a surplus product of the oleochemical industry. Aliphatic dicarbonic acids can be derived from vegetable oils. Biodegradation was performed in different test systems. 1) Polyester films were exposed to an aerated liquid medium inoculated with eluates from soil. 2) For this test system, polymer films were buried in soil. Copolyesters exhibited significant differences in both tests. Furthermore, a clear influence of the polymeric structure as well as of the chain length of the aliphatic dicarbonic acids on the microbial accessibility was observed.