Biodegradation of automotive waste polyester polyurethane foam using Pseudomonas chlororaphis ATCC55729 |
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Authors: | R. Gautam A.S. Bassi E.K. Yanful E. Cullen |
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Affiliation: | aDepartment of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ont., Canada N6A 5B9;bDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ont., Canada N6A 5B9 |
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Abstract: | Automotive waste polyester polyurethane (PUR) foams represent a major solid waste management problem. In the present investigation, we examined the capacity of Pseudomonas chlororaphis ATCC 55729 to biodegrade waste polyester PUR foam obtained from an automotive industry in shake cultures. Ammonia nitrogen, pH and diethylene glycol (DEG) concentrations were found to increase steadily over a period of 12 days. Furthermore, scanning electron photomicrographs of foam pieces also showed evidence of biodegradation. This shows that waste PUR foams can be successfully biodegraded under controlled laboratory environment. |
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Keywords: | Polyester polyurethane foam Foam biodegradation Polyurethane esterase enzyme Degradation by-products |
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