| Abstract: | The biotic and abiotic degradation of poly (L‐lactide) (PLLA) has been studied with pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py‐GC‐MS). A mixed culture of compost micro‐organisms was used as the biotic medium. Size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC), gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to monitor the degradation and degradation mechanism. Differences in pH, molecular weight, surface structure, and degradation mechanisms were noted between sample aged in biotic and abiotic medium. Using fractionated Py‐GC‐MS at 400 and 500°C, acetaldehyde, acrylic acid, lactoyl acrylic acid, two lactide isomers, and cyclic oligomers up to the pentamer were identified as thermal decomposition products of PLA as well as some other not completely identified products. The ratio of meso‐lactide to L‐lactide was lower in the sample aged in the biotic media than the abiotic media. This is a result of the preference of the micro‐organisms for L‐form of lactic acid and lactoyl lactic acid rather than the D‐form that in turn influences the formation and the amounts of meso and D,L‐lactide during the pyrolysis. Based on SEM micrographs, it was shown that degradation in the biotic medium proceeded mainly via a surface erosion mechanism, whereas bulk erosion was the predominant degradation mechanism in the abiotic medium. The SEC and Py‐GC‐MS data indicate that degradation was faster in the biotic than in the abiotic sample. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 2369–2378, 2000 |
