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Fate of a Polyacrylate Polymer during Composting of Simulated Municipal Solid Waste

Dep. of Soil, Water, and Climate, Univ. of Minnesota, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108.

^* Corresponding author (pbloom{at}soils.umn.edu).

ABSTRACT

The need to understand the biological reactivity of polymers has increased in response to the integration of biological waste treatment systems (e.g., composting and soil application) into waste management plans of communities worldwide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the compostibility and fate of a commonly used, synthetic polymer that is present in most solid waste streams. This was accomplished using a laboratory-scale composting system, simulated solid waste, and crosslinked ¹⁴C-polyacrylate. Commercial preparations were composed primarily of a high-molecular-weight fraction (>500 kDa) that was resistant to degradation. Only the unpolymerized monomers and low-molecular-weight oligomers (totaling about 8% of the commercial preparation) were readily degraded during composting. Polymer crosslinkages were also degraded rapidly. Degradation of the low-molecular-weight fractions was considered significant, because these fractions have demonstrated a greater mobility potential in soils. Molecular size distribution and infrared (IR) spectra of extractable organic fractions confirmed that the structural integrity of the polymer chains was maintained during composting. These residual, high-molecular-weight polyacrylates could improve soil structure, and should continue to degrade slowly leaving no toxic residues.