Biodegradability of NR gloves in soil
2000
Ahmad Ikram A. J. | Alias O. | Mohd. Napi D.
The environmental fate of NR gloves buried in soils was studied with several synthetic alternatives for 12 months in clayey Munchong series and sandy Holyrood series soil. Residual weight recovery and loss of tensile properties, supplemented by measurements of microbial populations and loss of film thickness were used to compare the extent of biodegradation of the glove materials. Residual weight measurements indicated a substantial degradation of the NR glove pieces but neoprene and nitrile were not degraded under such conditions. The weight loss of NR glove pieces in Munchong series soil was significantly higher than in the Holyrood series soil. Degrading NR glove pieces showed a significant loss of tensile strength and elongation at break after four weeks in both soils, with a significant increase in hardness. Vinyl showed some losses in weight that were probably confined to plasticiser and other additive losses. Significant losses of thickness were shown by NR (54%) and vinyl (37%) glove pieces but not for neoprene and nitrile. When averaged over soils and sampling times, the population densities of microorganisms on the various glove materials were of the order: bacteria; NR, vinyl > neoprene, nitrile; fungi; NR > vinyl > neoprene, nitrile; and actinornycetes; NR > neoprene > vinyl > nitrile. The biodegradation of used NR gloves in municipal landfills is discussed.
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