Degradation Behavior of Polyester Fibers in Compost

作者：Kawai Fusako^*; Nakajima Maho; Nakajima Hajime; Takatori Kenji; Higashi Shun ichi; Hayashi Koichi; Miyoshi Yasumasa

来源：Sen-I Gakkaishi, 2013, 69(5): 83-89.

DOI：10.2115/fiber.69.83

Degradation behavior of polyester fibers was examined in compost, using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and Ecoface (R) that has a modified PET structure with partly introduced hydrolyzable groups. Both (as knit articles and cloth) showed gradual decrease of the molecular weights in compost. The decrease of molecular weights of Ecoface reached around 90% after ca. 6 months, but that of PET remained less than 50%. Although decrease of a molecular weight of PET cloth was observed, no fragmentation was found after ca. 6 months with and without inoculum of actinomycetes. Thin cloth of Ecoface (R) showed ca. 90% decrease in its molecular weight after 3 months and was fragmented. Even thick cloth of Ecoface showed fragmentation after ca. 4.5 months with ca. 90% decrease of the original molecular weight. Fragmentation seemed to be caused when the decrease of a molecular weight reached over 90%. Inoculation of polyester-degrading thermophilic actinomycetes on the surface of samples seemed to promote and stabilize degradation of Ecoface fragmented in compost.

• 出版日期2013-5