Continental J. Biological S © Wilolud Journals, 2012 Printed in Nigeria EFFECTS OF STARCH BLEND ON 1 Department of Industrial Chemistry ABSTRACT The effect of corn and cassava st polypropylene was studied using th strength of the polymer decreased p starch (90 % weight loss) and 0.5 addition. At the same rate, elongati for corn starch (91 % weight l biodegradability of a 10 % starch f more than 70 % in the presence of t KEYWORDS: Polypropylene, Star ________________________________ INTRODUCTION Solid waste disposal especially non-bi with the emerging large number of plas are receiving attention mainly because fillers in polyurethane (Bennett, et.al., (Otey et al., 1980). As a way of solving the problem of wa and environmental degradation (Potts, J environmental pollution to limited sp biotechnological approach to proffer b makes use of micro-organisms such as function through enzyme action to caus first generation of biodegradable mater starch. The second attempt concentrat polymeric backbone. These groups wer polymer. The third approach is the d naturally synthesized by bacteria grow polymers therefore means the applicat polymer chain and subsequent disinte however effective if the polymer mix co Classical methods using the America biodegradability showed that alteration of drastic decrease in molecular weight and Ono, R.1995) also proposed the so In this method, the result of the biodeg found to correlate with the result obtain Potts screened a variety of materials an such as starch, cellulose, cotton and si micro-organisms secrete enzymes, whic organic acid which the organism can re 20 Sciences 5 (1): 20 - 25, 2012 ISSN: 2141 2 http://www.wil doi:10.5707/cjbiolsci.2012 THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND BIODEGRAD POLYPROPYLENE 1 A.O. Ogah and 1 J.N. Afiukwa. y, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. tarch blends on the mechanical properties and biodegr he gravimetric (weight loss) method. The results showed progressively from 2.497 Mpa of pure polymer to 0.250 M 500 Mpa for cassava starch (80 % weight loss) each at 5 ion at break also decreased from 1.087 % of pure polyme loss) and 0.15 % for cassava starch (86 % weight filled polymer composite within 30 days incubation was e the micro-organism and it increased with incubation perio rch, Biodegradation and mechanical properties. _______________________________________________ iodegradable types constitute environmental problems. stic industries in the country. Polymers filled with starch o e of their biodegradability. Native and modified starch h , 1967), polyvinylchloride (West Hoff et.al., 1974) an aste plastic disposal, Potts, proposed recycling, incinerat J.E.1978). However, these methods have their shortcomin pace for effective landfills (Donnelly, B.2001). This better solution to the problem of plastic waste disposal s bacteria and fungi found naturally in the soil. These m se biodegradation of plastic polymers (Gilead D.and Enni rials consisted of blends of polymers with natural food s ted on the insertion of functional groups, such as ester re susceptible to microbial action due to the organic carbo development of materials such as polyhydroxybutyrate wn in fermentation pot (Bailey,W.JandGapud,B.1985).Bi tion of micro-organisms on polymer mix to cause a br egration of the molecular chain. The action of the mi ontains some carbohydrates. an Standard for Testing Materials (ASTM) and of test n in tensile properties and complete loss of structural inte t are evidence of biodegradation (Gilead. and Ennis, R.19 oil burial method as a way of testing for the biodegradabil gradation of LDPE, PS, PVC and UF buried in the soil f ned using the ASTM method. nd discovered that micro organisms in the soil gobbled n silk but ate up one class of synthetic polymer, the polye ch seek the ester group and in aqueous medium converts eadily digest (Potts, J.E.1960). It is believed that the abov 1 - 4122 loludjournal.com 2.5.1.20.25 ADABILITY OF P.M.B. 053, radability of d that tensile Mpa for corn 50 % starch er to 0.10 % loss). The enhanced by od. ___________ This is peculiar or its derivatives has been used as and polyethylene tion, composting ngs ranging from study applies a l. This approach micro-organisms nis, R.1985). The sources, such as linkages on the on content of the (PHB) that are iodegradation of reakdown of the icro-organism is ting plastics for egrity as a result 987). Otake, Y lity of polymers. for 32 years was natural polymers ester group. The it to alcohol and ve reactions