TRATAMIENTO BIOLÓGICO–ULTRASÓNICO NUEVA ALTERNATIVA EN LA DEGRADACIÓN DE POLIPROPILENO

Polypropylene is a material widely used for its large variety of applications and easy to use, their indiscriminate use has generated a serious environmental problem, due to their accumulation and the long periods, approximately 100 years. We are interested to investigate a new alternative of degradation. This research involves two methods of degradation, one of them is biological (Phanerochaete chrysosporium) and the other is physical (ultrasound) in order to reduce the degradation time. The Polypropylene was inoculate with Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and sonicated using an ultrasonic bath to 43 kHz by several degradation time. The polypropylene was characterize by FTIR–ATR, observing the presence of carbonyl and vinyl groups, promoted by β–cleavage of the backbone of polypropylene. SEM showed the morphology before and after degradation process, the formation of biofilm on the membrane surface and subsequent breaking of fibers at 100 hours reaction was observe. The contact angle and mechanical tests confirm the presence of polar groups on the polypropylene surface, the hydrophobicity and the tensile strength decreased favoring its degradation.