Investigation of the biodegradation of polyvinyl chloride using modified rice starch

A This article examines the effect of modified rice starch on the biodegradation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), with an emphasis on changes in the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of the polymer. In light of the global growth in the production and consumption of PVC, which leads to an increase in the volume of its waste, the development of effective disposal methods is becoming a critical task. The study shows that the addition of rice starch to PVC significantly accelerates its biodegradation under the influence of soil microorganisms. The research methods included analysis of biodegradation in various types of soil, thermogravimetric, IR analysis, SEM analysis, as well as assessment of the physical and mechanical characteristics of samples before and after biodegradation. The results confirm the hypothesis that modification of PVC with rice starch not only contributes to faster biodegradation of the material, but also makes changes in its structure and properties, which opens up new prospects for the development of environmentally friendly polymer materials. These studies can be used to develop new approaches to the disposal and recycling of PVC, reducing its negative impact on the environment.