Preparation and ecotoxicity assessment of new biodegradable polyurethane foams

J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng. 2007 Apr;42(5):677-83. doi: 10.1080/10934520701244482.

Abstract

Flexible biodegradable polyurethane foams (BIO-PUR) were prepared by a one-shot process using commercially available coreactants and modified by substituting biodegradable additive based on the acetylated starch (AS), acetylcellulose (AC), 2-hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) and carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt (CMC) for 5 or 10 wt% of commercial polyether polyol. The BIO-PUR foams were characterized by FTIR, TGA and polarization microscopy. Ecotoxicity of BIO-PUR foams freshwater extracts was evaluated using the alternative crustacean toxicity test Thamnotoxkit F. Values of toxicity were expressed as percentage mortality of the instars II-III larvae of freshwater fairy shrimps (Thamnocephalus platyurus) dependence on the effect criterion of the respective assay. The leaches of BIO-PUR foams modified with 5 or 10 wt% of HEC showed higher toxicity then other BIO-PUR foams, whereas leaches of BIO-PUR with 5wt% of AS and 10wt% of AC were even less toxic than REF. PUR foam.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anostraca / drug effects
  • Anostraca / physiology
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Environmental Pollutants / chemistry*
  • Environmental Pollutants / toxicity*
  • Larva / drug effects
  • Materials Testing
  • Microspheres
  • Polyurethanes / chemistry*
  • Polyurethanes / toxicity*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Time Factors
  • Toxicity Tests, Acute

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Polyurethanes
  • polyurethane foam