Vermicomposting of cis-1.4-polybutadiene rubber (Br) through culturing dense populations of the Californian redworm (Eisenia foetida Sav.)

One of the biomethods for organic waste utilization is the vermicomposting process, that is run with the use of dense populations of the Californian redworm (Eisenia foetida), whose role in the processes of pre- vention of soil degradation and organic waste recycling is well known. In recent years, shredded material from car tyres has been used more and more frequently for the hardening and filling of road embankments, which poses a hazard to the soil environment. Our paper attempts to demonstrate opportunities for the use of the red California hybrid (Eisenia foeti- da Sav.) in the bioutilization process of cis-1.4-polybutadiene rubber (BR) vulcanizate, which is a major com- ponent of car tyres. The basis for the study was a culture of Eisenia foetida on various beddings run over six months, as well as chemical and microscopic analyses using the Quanta 250 scanning electron microscope. The study has shown that the red California hybrid (Eisenia foetida Sav.) may be used in the bioutilization process of cis-1.4-polybutadiene rubber (BR) vulcanizate. Following the introduction of the butadiene rubber vulcanizate into the soil with the Californian hybrid, its complete decomposition occurs due to the redworm's trophic activity.