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Analysis of biodegradable polymers in soils
Paluchová, Natálie ; Řezáčová, Veronika (referee) ; Kučerík, Jiří (advisor)
Currently, there is a growing interest in usage of biodegradable polymers, regardless of their possible risk of generation of residues. The methods that are used for determination of residues usually include pre-treatment and are expensive and time consuming. Therefore, this bachelor thesis focuses on the development and verification of analytical method that would identify and quantify of biodegradable polymer residues in soils to eliminate the problems arising from sample pre-treatment. Therefore, thermogravimetry, which appears to satisfy the above conditions, was used for the analysis. The area of polymer degradation in three types of soils during thermal oxidation and the effect of polymer on soil during the analysis was investigated. Poly(3 hydroxybutyrate) was chosen to be the representative biodegradable polymer and there were two approaches used to its detection and quatification. The methods were tested for 6 concentrations of poly(3–hydroxybutyrate) (0,1; 0,5; 1; 2; 3; 5 %). The first approach concentrated on the usage of polymer analysis in the presence of a blank (without contaminat), which was subtracted from the blank. Using this method, the temperature interval of polymer degradation and weigh loss changes in this interval were observed. The second method focused on a soil universal model, that allows the identification and quatification of samples when the blank is not present. The blank is simulated by 19 equations, that allow the identification of intervals, in which degradation of samples occurs and also it provides the possibility to determinate the type of the polymer. However, the principle component analysis indicated that the method is sensitive to the type of soil and therefore it needs adjustments. Samples were incubated for 4 months, to verify the sensitivity of the method, in case of partial or complete decomposition of samples by soil microorganisms,. Thereafter, the concentrations of poly(3-hydroxybutryrate) in soil determined by respirometry and thermogravimetry were compared. The results indicated that accelerated degradation caused by poly(3-hydroxybutrylate) or contamination of the sample with the surrounding atmosphere during respiration may have occurred. Residual poly(3–hydroxybutyrate) was thermogravimetrically verified and results were compared to respirometry. According to the results it can be observed that there was an interaction between the soil organic matter and biota or contamination of the sample with the surrounding atmosphere. The results revealed, that there is a possibility of determination of biodegradable polymers in soils by thermogravimetric analysis. There are good results using the blank method, but it is limited by the existence of a blank. The method that is using the soil universal model (without blank) has a great potential in the future, but adjustments still need to be done.
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Grafting VTMOS onto PHB
Novotný, Igor ; Petruš, Josef (referee) ; Kučera, František (advisor)
Diploma thesis deals with the grafting of vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMOS) onto poly(3–hydroxybutyrate)PHB. Subsequent characterization of the amount of grafted VTMOS and changes in the thermal properties associated with the rate of crystallization. The theoretical part deals with mechanism and the influences of grafting. In the experimental part VTMOS was grafted onto PHB without subjecting VTMOS to hydrolysis and subsequent crosslinking. By differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Avrami equation, the effect of grafted silane group on pure was studied. The MVR was used to compare the rheological properties of initial PHB, grafted PHB and crosslinked PHB by siloxane linkages.
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Stress resistance of bacterial pure cultures and mixed cultures
Chorvátová, Michaela ; Slaninová, Eva (referee) ; Obruča, Stanislav (advisor)
The purpose of this bachelor thesis was to investigate a stress resistance of bacterial monocultures and defined mixed culture. The theoretical part contains a literary review, which deals with the general stress resistance of bacteria and the dynamics of their growth. Furthermore, polyhydroxyalkanoates are introduced, as well as their involvement into stress response of bacteria. In this review was also elaborated the flow cytometry, significant modern method, which was important part of the experiment. In the experimental part, the resistance to osmotic and temperature stress was studied. For this purpose, monocultures of the PHA accumulating strain Cupriavidus necator H16 and the mutant strain Cupriavidus necator H16/PHB-4 unable to accumulate PHA were used. The defined mixed culture was prepared by cocultivating these two strains. Overall, the accumulation and utilization of PHA, namely poly (3-hydroxybutyrate), increased the resistance of bacteria. The most notable was the increase in the case of osmotic stress, when salt concentrations did not significantly reduce the viability of Cupriavidus necator H16 against a mutant strain which viability decreased with growing intensity of stress. On the other hand, experimental temperatures did not have a significant effect on cell viability. The highest growth of bacteria was recorded, in most cases, at their temperature´s optimum of 30 °C.
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Properties of nanocomposite based on PHB and HNT
Stehnová, Ivana ; Pavliňáková, Veronika (referee) ; Přikryl, Radek (advisor)
This bachelor’s thesis deals with nanocomposite containing polyhydroxybutyrate matrix filled with halloysite nanotubes. It summarizes findings about optimization of surface modification of the filler, compatibility between the filler and polymer, distribution of the filler in the composite and effect of the filler surface modification, the composite preparation and the filler content on mechanical properties of the composite. Surface modification of the filler was done using 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylmethacrylate. Efficiency of the silanization was verified by thermogravimetric analysis and Raman spectroscopy. Concentrates containing the unmodified and the modified nanofiller in poly(vinylacetate) or poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) were prepared. Using these concentrates, composites containing 1 % and 3 % of the filler were prepared. Distribution of the filler in the concentrates and the composites and compatibility between the filler and polymer were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Mechanical properties of the composites were tested by tensile test.
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Polyhydroxybutyrate modification by grafting of functional groups
Melčová, Veronika ; Tocháček, Jiří (referee) ; Přikryl, Radek (advisor)
Presented bachelor thesis deals with a characterization of the effect of chemical grafting on thermal and mechanical properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate). Two grafting methods were chosen, chlorination and fluorination of PHB. The aim of the theoretical part of the work was to create a complete literature review containing basic information about polyhydroxybutyrate and the latest scientific evidence about possibilities of chemical modification of this polymer. The experimental part describes the chemical treatment of the material itself, as well as preparation of samples for testing and performing the selected analysis. Chemically grafted polymers were subjected to thermogravimetric analysis to determine their thermal stability. Thermal behavior of materials was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Also non-isothermal crystallization of samples was observed in order to evaluate the influence of the grafted halogen atom onto the nucleation activity of the polymer. Selected samples were also subjected to dynamic mechanical analysis and tensile test.
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