Microbial Destruction of Guanidine-Containing Polymers

• Published in: Materials science (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 59; no. 4; pp. 494 - 503
• Main Authors: Kopteva, Zh. O., Vortman, M. Ya, Iutynska, G. O., Kopteva, G. E., Abdulina, D. R., Lemeshko, V. M., Terebilenko, A. V., Pylypenko, A. M., Shevchenko, V. V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.12.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bacteria; Catalase; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry and Materials Science; Materials Science; Microorganisms; Microscopy; Polymers; Polyurethane resins; Solid Mechanics; Structural Materials; Tensile strength; Thermogravimetric analysis; tensile strength; relative elongation; IR microscopy; thermogravimetry; biodegradation; hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria; enzymes; guanidine-containing polymers
• ISSN: 1068-820X; 1573-885X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11003-024-00803-9

The fracture of guanidine-containing polymers and the chemical and physicomechanical properties of the synthesized materials under the influence of hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria (HOB) were studied. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the formation of a HOB biofilm on the surface of the studied materials. Such polymers inhibited catalase and lipolytic activity 1.3–3 times compared to the environment under control. According to the obtained data, the fracture of guanidine polymers was insignificant (4.4–6.53%). The physicomechanical properties of the materials – tensile strength and relative elongation practically did not change during 180 days of the experiment. These results are consistent with the results of IR microscopy. The method of thermogravimetric analysis showed that for the two studied materials, the initial temperature of decomposition did not decrease and their properties after exposure to the HOB did not change. It can be assumed that under the influence of bacteria on the surfaces of these polymers, minor surface biodegradation may have occurred. Therefore, the tested polyurethane-based material is promising for protecting various structures against biodamage.