Effects of added nitrogen and phosphorus on the biodegradation of NR gloves in soil
2001
Ahmad Ikram A. J. | Shamsul Bahri A. R. | Fauzi M. S. | Mohd. Napi D.
Biodegradation of NR latex gloves in an Oxisol in response-to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) application was compared with several synthetic alternatives (polychloroprene, nitrile and plasticised PVC). Pieces of glove materials placed in nylon-net mesh bags were buried for up to 40 weeks in soils within containers receiving a high - (100 mg L-1 N, 150 mg LP-1) or a low - (10 mg L-1, 15 mg L-1 P) nutrient treatment and an unamended control. Mass losses of NR glove pieces were rapid in the high-nutrient treatment compared to the low or the control treatment. The NR glove pieces retained 17.6% of its initial weight in the high-nutrient treatment at 40 weeks, whereas the synthetic materials remained intact except for plasticised PVC which retained 73.9% of its initial mass. The specific degradation rate of NR glove pieces, expressed as mass loss per week was three times higher under a high-nutrient regime than when left to natural attenuation processes. Degradation of the NR test pieces was consistent with the drastic reduction in tensile properties, and with the higher number of bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi colonising the material.
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