Back to the Future: Decomposability of a Biobased and Biodegradable Plastic in Field Soil Environments and Its Microbiome under Ambient and Future Climates.

Decomposition by microorganisms of plastics in soils is almost unexplored despite the fact that the majority of plastics released into the environment end up in soils. Here, we investigate the decomposition process and microbiome of one of the most promising biobased and biodegradable plastics, poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA), under field soil conditions under both ambient and future predicted climates (for the time between 2070 and 2100). We show that the gravimetric and molar mass of PBSA is already largely reduced (28-33%) after 328 days under both climates. We provide novel information on the PBSA microbiome encompassing the three domains of life: Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya (fungi). We show that PBSA begins to decompose after the increase in relative abundances of aquatic fungi (Tetracladium spp.) and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The PBSA microbiome is distinct from that of surrounding soils, suggesting that PBSA serves as a new ecological habitat. We conclude that the microbial decomposition process of PBSA in soil is more complex than previously thought by involving interkingdom relationships, especially between bacteria and fungi.

Mosquito repellent thermal stability, permeability and air volatility.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of mosquito repellents, whether applied topically on the skin or released from a wearable device, is determined by the evaporation rate. This is because a repellent has to be present in the form of a vapour in the vicinity of the exposed skin that needs protection. Therefore, gravimetric techniques were used to investigate the direct evaporation of selected liquid repellents, their permeation through polymer films, and their release from a microporous polyethylene matrix. RESULTS: Evaporation of a repellent into quiescent air is determined by its air permeability. This is a product of the vapour pressure and the diffusion coefficient, i.e. S A = P A sat D A . It was found that repellents could be ranked in terms of decreasing volatility as: ethyl anthranilate > citriodiol > dimethyl phthalate > N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) > decanoic acid > ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate > Icaridin. Experimental SA values, at 50 °C, ranged from 0.015 ± 0.008 mPa m2  s-1 for the least volatile repellent (Icaridin) to 0.838 ± 0.077 mPa m2  s-1 for the most volatile (ethyl anthranilate). The release rate from microporous polyethylene strands, produced by extrusion-compounding into ice water baths followed a similar ranking. These strands featured an integral skin-like membrane that covered the extruded strands and controlled the release of the repellent at a low effective rate. CONCLUSION: The high thermal and thermo-oxidative stability together with the low volatility of the mosquito repellents ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate and Icaridin make them attractive candidates for long-lasting wearable mosquito-repellent devices. Such anklets/bracelets may have utility for outdoor protection against infective mosquito bites in malaria-endemic regions. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.