In general, paper can be easily degraded by various environmental and physical factors, for example temperature, humidity, light and so on. Microorganism is also another biological origin in degradation of paper. The methods for evaluating the degrada...
In general, paper can be easily degraded by various environmental and physical factors, for example temperature, humidity, light and so on. Microorganism is also another biological origin in degradation of paper. The methods for evaluating the degradation degree of paper were limited to the official or unofficial standards on physical/mechanical property by aging of paper.
In this research, the trials using quantitative analysis method in evaluating the biodegradation behaviors by microorganism were introduced by instrumental analysis, in order to complement the limits of physical standard methods. The microorganism generally produces the metabolism products through the degradation process. The focus of this research was pointed to the biodegradation properties of paper by quantitative analysis of organic acids which are related on the growth of microorganism.
Aspergillus niger (ASN) and Trichodermaviride(TRV)were selected due to the greater activity as are presentative microorganism in biodegradation of paper. 3 Kinds of paper, filterpaper, printing & writing paper and conservation paper were used as a biodegradation media by microorganism.
Fiber slurry was prepared to 1% concentration by disintegration of 3 kinds of paper. ASN and TRV were inoculated at the condition of 1% volume ratio to the prepared fiber slurry. The cultivation of microorganism was carried out in shaking incubator at temperature of 27 C and shaking speed of 200 rpm. The quantitative analysis of organic acids was carried out by HPLC after cultivating periods of 15 days. Another inoculation trial was done on the 3 kinds of paper by inoculating ASN and TRV at the same conditions as fiber slurry application in order to investigate the change of physical properties of paper by biodegradation of microorganism.
In the case of ASN application, the total production amounts of organic acid by biodegradation of paper were higher in filter paper and lower in conservation paper, and in the case of TRV, higher in P & W paper and lower in conservation paper, due to the pH conditions of both papers. Additionally, in the ASN and TRV application, the changes of mechanical strength of paper by microorganism were resulted in the lowest reduction rate in conservation paper, due to the conception of pH and sizing degree of base paper from 3 kinds of paper. In the results of biodegradation speed of fibrous material, the activity of ASN was shown in slower and that of TRV shown in faster by addition of organic/inorganic additives into fiber slurry.