Aerobic biodegradation of cellulose acetate

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Two separate assay systems were used to evaluate the biodegradation potential of cellulose acetate: anin vitroenrichment cultivation technique (closed batch system), and a system in which cellulose diacetate (CDA) films were suspended in a wastewater treatment system (open continuous feed system). Thein vitroassay employed a stable enrichment culture, which was initiated by inoculating a basal salts medium containing cellulose acetate with 5% (v/v) activated sludge. Microscopic examination revealed extensive degradation of CDA (DS = 2.5) fibers after 2–3 weeks of incubation. Characterization of the CA fibers recovered from inoculated flasks demonstrated a lower average degree of substitution and a change in the mol wt profiles.In vitroenrichments with CDA (DS = 1.7) films were able to degrade > 80% of the films in 4–5 days. Cellulose acetate (DS = 2.5) films required 10–12 days for extensive degradation. Films prepared from cellulose triacetate remained essentially unchanged after 28 days in thein vitroassay. The wastewater treatment assay was less active than thein vitroenrichment system. For example, approximately 27 days were required for 70% degradation of CDA (DS = 1.7) films to occur while CDA (DS = 2.5) films required approximately 10 weeks before significant degradation was obtained. Supporting evidence for the biodegradation potential of cellulose acetate was obtained through the conversion of cellulose [1‐14C]‐acetate to14CO2in thein vitroassay. The results of this work demonstrate that cellulose acetate fibers and films are potentially biodegradable and that the rate of biodegradation is highly dependent on the degree of substitution.