The objective of this study is to assess the enhancement in biodegradation of dichlorodiethyl ether (DCDE) by ozonation and Fenton treatment. Acclimated and non-acclimated sludge cultures were used to test the biodegradability of the preoxidized DCDE solutions by three different tests: Short-term and long-term respirometry through continuous monitoring of oxygen consumption, and the mid-term te...

The use of PLA and PLA-g-AA/starch as materials for the controlled release of encapsulated PSB was evaluated. The results showed that the bacterium degraded both the PLA and the PLA-g-AA/starch composite films, resulting in cell release. Severe disruption of the film structure occurred after incubation for 60-90 d. The PLA-g-AA/starch (20 wt.-%) films were more biodegradable than those made of ...

Using biodegradable films is increasingly growing since they contain natural materials. In this study, sago starch and carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) were used in film preparation. Sago starch films with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% CMC concentrations were prepared using solvent casting method. The mechanical properties were determined according to standards of American Society for Testing and Materials...

The oxidation of organic compounds and color removal of a synthetic dyeing effluent when treated with a combination of Fenton’s Reagent and biological oxidation in a sequencing batch reactor was evaluated in this work. A central composite design approach was used to find the best conditions of temperature, hydrogen peroxide and ferrous ion concentrations that maximize color and dissolved organi...

The present investigation highlights the feasibility of a polymer grafting process to enhance the durability and flame retardancy of rice straw towards application as a low cost roofing material. The success of this grafting methodology was perceived to depend upon a bi-step pre-treatment process encompassing delignification and inorganic salts dispersion. Subsequently free radical polymer graf...

Biodegradable and environmentally friendly biocomposites produced by a combination of biodegradable thermoplastics and natural fiber have gained increasing interest in recent years. In this work, eco-friendly biocomposites made from poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and different weight percentages (10, 30, 50, and 70 wt%) of oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF) were fabricated via a melt blending proce...

---The goal of this research was to assess the biodegradability of two synthetic tanning agents (syntans), Phenol condensation product and Nitrogen containing resin using Respirometry. The evaluation involved the analysis of oxygen uptake rate (OUR), profiles by respirometry. The study was conducted with different syntan concentrations of 50mg/L, 100mg/L, 150mg/L and 200mg/L. The oxygen uptake ...