Biodegradation of cellulose

A J Clark, Biodegradation of cellulose enzymology and biotechnology (Basle Technomic Publishing AG, 1996). 

Buchanan, C.M., Gardner, R.M. and Komarek, R.J. (1993). Aerobic biodegradation of cellulose acetate. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 47(10), 1709-1719. 

Northcote, D. H. In Biosynthesis and Biodegradation of Cellulose and Cellulose Materials Marcel Dekker Inc. New York, 1988 Ch. 3. 

Glasser W., McCartney B., Samaranayake G. Cellulose derivatives with low degree of substitution. 3. The biodegradability of cellulose esters using a simple enzyme assay. Biotechnology Progress 10 214-219 (1994). 

The biodegradation of cellulose is caused by enzymes known as cellulases [471-475]. Cellu-lases are produced by many microorganisms (bacteria and fungi). The most widely studied cellulases are of fungal origin, e.g., Trichoderma [471,473]. The cellulose-digesting bacteria of the rumen are a complex anaerobic community [476,477]. 

Eriksson K. E. and Wood T. M. (1985) Biodegradation of cellulose. In Biosynthesis and Biodegradation of Wood Components (ed. T. Higuchi). Academic Press, pp. 469-504. 

Buchanan CM, Gardner RM, Komarek RJ (1993) Aerobic biodegradation of cellulose acetate. J Appl Polym Sci 47 1709-1719... 

Figure 1 Nanofibrils of cellulose from Acetobacterxylinum grown In the presence of CMC. Courtesy of Professor C. H. Haigler, In Biosynthesis and Biodegradation of Cellulose-, C. H. Halgler, P. J. Weimer, Eds. Marcel Dekker New York, 1991 p99.

A.W. and Wood, M.D., 1996, The influence of degree of substitution on blend miscibility and biodegradation of cellulose acetate blends. J. Environ. Polym. Degrad. 4,179-195. 

Ho, K.-L.G. and Pometto, A.L. Ill (1999) Temperature effects on soil mineralization of polylactic acid plastic in laboratory respirometers. Journal of Environmental Polymer Degradation, 1, 101-108. Buchanan, C.M., Dorschel, D.D., Gardner, R.M. et al. (1995) Biodegradation of cellulose esters Composting of cellulose ester-diluent mixture. Journal of Macromolecular Science, Part A Pure and Applied Chemistry, A32,683-697. 

Haiglier, C.H., Weimer, P.J., 1991. Biosynthesis and Biodegradation of Cellulose. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York. 

Cellulose is not thermoplastic but can be chemically modified to produce a wide variety of cellulosic plastics—some of which are thermoplastic—and fibers. Before 1950 cellulosics were the most important group of thermoplastics today, cellulosic fibers still make up about 8% of the fiber market. Some chemically modified celluloses do not have the biodegradability of cellulose. 

Emons, A.M.C. 1991. Role of particle rosettes and terminal globules in cellulose synthesis. In Haigler C.H. and Weimer P.J. (eds.) Biosynthesis and biodegradation of cellulose. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp. 71-98. 

The biodegradability of cellulose acetate (CA) films with degree of substitution (DS) values of 1.7 and 2.5 using laboratory-scale compost reactors maintained at a 60% moisture content and 53°C [57]. It was found that the CA films (thickness values of 0.013 to 0.025 and 0.051mm, respectively) had completely disappeared by the end of 7- and 18-d exposure periods, respectively. Moisture conditions in the laboratory-scale compost reactors were found to have a profound effect on the extent of CA film weight loss as a function of the exposure time. It was determined that for moisture contents of 60, 50, and 40% the time for complete CA DS-1.7 film disappearance was 6,16, and 30 days, respectively. 

Biodegradation of plastics was tested in the compost stored at -20°C, 4°C and 20°C for different periods [152], It was found that biodegradation of cellulose in the compost was almost independent of the storage time and temperature. In contrast, biodegradability of both polycaprolactone (PBS) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) depended strongly on the storage conditions. 

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