Disintegration test of poly(lactic acid) and some of its based polymer buried in soil

Abstract

Biodegradation test of poly(lactic acid) and cellulose coated with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) by dip-coating technique at the duration of 10, 20 and 40 minutes by burial in the soil. Experimental was tested by buried in soil in at aerobic condition in 45 day at room temperature. Following the experimental by visual observation, changing of thickness, weight loss technique and analytical of changing of functional groups. The study of morphology of sample found that the black spots on the surface of filter paper and filter paper coated with poly(lactic acid) for 10 minutes. The study of physical characteristics found that the filter paper had the highest change in thickness. The most changing of thickness of the paper coated with PLA is the paper coated with poly(lactic acid) at the duration of 10, 20 and 40 minutes, respectively. Swelling behavior of the sample gave the similar trend as the changing of thickness. The higher percentage of coating poly(lactic acid), resulting in decreased swelling behavior. The weight loss of filter paper is highest. FTIR showed that the characteristics functional groups of PLA in form of wavenumber 2996 cm⁻¹ (C-H), 1748 cm⁻¹ (C=O) and 1080 cm⁻¹ (C–O). Functional group analysis of paper coated with poly(lactic acid) at 40 minutes of dip-coating time found that the functional group of samples same as poly(lactic acid). After 45 days, both types of samples did not change the functional groups. Due to samples were tested in a short time. Therefore, the functional groups were not changed.