Bacterial Degradation of Plasticized PVC

Abstract

SUMMARY Sixtytwo bacterial cultures isolated from a range of deteriorated plastic materials were tested for their ability to degrade a particular PVC mix plasticized with di‐ iso ‐octyl sebacate. Twentythree of them, mainly members of the genera Pseudomonas and Brevibacterium , gave weight losses of up to 20% in 2 weeks in laboratory conditions. The degradation, which was accompanied by a loss of flexibility of the material, was greatly increased in vigorously aerated cultures.