Accelerating the environmental biodegradation of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) via plasma surface treatment


Akdoğan E., Şirin H. T., Şahal G., Deniz Z., Kaya A., Çökeliler D.

Bioresource Technology Reports, cilt.25, ss.1-11, 2023 (Hakemli Dergi)

Özet

The surface of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) was modified using a low-pressure plasma system with air as the 

process gas to accelerate its biodegradation rate in soil. The water contact angle of PHB was reduced from 98◦ to 

57◦ after plasma treatment, rendering the surface hydrophilic and also induced an increase in the surface free 

energy. Etching on the surface was observed after the plasma treatment without a significant change in the 

surface crystallinity. AFM imaging showed that the plasma treatment increased the surface roughness by about 

10 folds and created diverse surface structures. The soil burial test showed an approximately 1.5-fold increase in 

the biodegradation rate for the plasma-treated sample. Initial microbial attachment and biofilm formation were 

higher on the modified surface. This study demonstrated that the surface morphology created by plasma 

treatment promoted initial colonization and subsequent biofilm formation on the PHB surface, facilitating and 

accelerating its biodegradation in soil.