BioIPN0, agarose, and latex,
together with a PP fibrous membrane control, were subjected to biodegradability
testing. A dual-enzyme system was needed to degrade the IPN consisting
of agarase (to degrade the agarose)26 (link) and
of Laccase (to degrade the latex).27 (link) Samples
of 1 cm2 size were treated in 10 mL of agarase at a concentration
of 0.625 U mL–1 in 50 mM Tris–HCl buffer
of pH 8.0 for 7 days. The biodegradation was carried out inside an
IKA KS 4000 incubator shaker at 40 °C and 60 rpm. After 1 week,
the remaining samples were washed with deionized water, dried, and
subjected to the second enzyme treatment. The samples were placed
in 10 mL of 1 U mL–1 Laccase in 10 mM acetate buffer
at pH of 5. The Laccase treatment was performed at 37 °C at 60
rpm using the same incubator shaker for 7 days. Following the biodegradability
test, the remaining membranes were collected on an NL 17 polyamide
membrane filter having a pore size of 0.45 μm (Whatman, GE Healthcare
Life Sciences) and thoroughly washed with deionized water. Then, the
membranes were dried in an oven at 40 °C under a vacuum for a
week. The weights of the dry samples before the start of the treatments
and at the end of the second enzyme test were recorded, and the weight
loss was calculated based on these values. The biodegradation experiments
were carried out in duplicate using independently prepared BioIPN0 membranes.
together with a PP fibrous membrane control, were subjected to biodegradability
testing. A dual-enzyme system was needed to degrade the IPN consisting
of agarase (to degrade the agarose)26 (link) and
of Laccase (to degrade the latex).27 (link) Samples
of 1 cm2 size were treated in 10 mL of agarase at a concentration
of 0.625 U mL–1 in 50 mM Tris–HCl buffer
of pH 8.0 for 7 days. The biodegradation was carried out inside an
IKA KS 4000 incubator shaker at 40 °C and 60 rpm. After 1 week,
the remaining samples were washed with deionized water, dried, and
subjected to the second enzyme treatment. The samples were placed
in 10 mL of 1 U mL–1 Laccase in 10 mM acetate buffer
at pH of 5. The Laccase treatment was performed at 37 °C at 60
rpm using the same incubator shaker for 7 days. Following the biodegradability
test, the remaining membranes were collected on an NL 17 polyamide
membrane filter having a pore size of 0.45 μm (Whatman, GE Healthcare
Life Sciences) and thoroughly washed with deionized water. Then, the
membranes were dried in an oven at 40 °C under a vacuum for a
week. The weights of the dry samples before the start of the treatments
and at the end of the second enzyme test were recorded, and the weight
loss was calculated based on these values. The biodegradation experiments
were carried out in duplicate using independently prepared BioIPN0 membranes.
Free full text: Click here
