Biodegradation of Water-Soluble Polymers by Active Sludge

Abstract

Biodegradation of water-soluble polymers by active sludge has been examined. The polymers including hydroxyl groups and carboxyl groups in their side chains and polypeptides, etc. Results showed the more carboxyl groups in the polymers, the easier the biodegradation occurs in the hydrolysate of vinyl acetate and methyl acrylate copolymers. Furthermore, biodegradation rarely occurs of higher molecular weight, namely polypeptide. This tendency is more appreciable in the synthetic polymers prepared by heat polycondensation method, than that of polypeptides synthesized by on N-Carboxy amino acid anhydrides method.