STUDI BIODEGRADASI POLI HIDROKSI BUTIRAT DALAM MEDIA CAIR (Biodegradation of Poly Hydroxy Butyrate in Liquid Medium) - Eka Sari; Siti Syamsiah; Sarto Sarto (Jurnal Manusia dan Lingkungan, 2007)
ABSTRAK Poli hidroksi butirat (PHS) termasuk dalam golongan bioplastik. Plastik jenis ini diharapkan dapat menjadi plastik altematif yang ramah lingkungan sebagai pengganti plastik sintetis yang bersifat sangat suI it terdegradasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan menguji potensi biodegradabilitas PHS komersial dalam media cair dengan menggunakan lumpur aktif dan unit pengolahan limbah pabrik plastik sintetik. Identifikasi proses degradasi dilakukan dengan cara mengamati perubahan karakteristik PHS yang meliputi perubahan visual, perubahan morfologi permukaan, penurunan berat, perubahan kristalinitas, dan perubahan berat molekul selama 15 pekan inkubasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kerusakan PHS se1ama proses degradasi dapat dilihat secara visual. Disamping itu, morfologi permukaan mengalami perubahan signifikan. Adapun penurunan berat, kristalinitas, dan berat molekul berturut-turut mencapai 22,91 %,57.44 %, dan 29,52 %. ABSTRACT Poly hidroxy butyrate (PHB) is a member of bioplastic group. This type of plastic is expected to be alternative plastic which is environmently friendly to replace synthetic plastic that is known to be very difficult to degrade. This research aims to test the biodegradability of commercial PHB in liquid mediums used activated sludge from waste water treatment plant in plastic synthetic factory. Identification of biodegradation process  was done by monitoring the changes of PHB characteristics including visual change, surface morphology change, reduction of weight, reduction of crystallinity, and reduction of molecular weight during 15 weeks incubation. The result shows that  the damage of PHB sample during biodegradation could be seen visually and liquid medium show the existence of change which can be seen visually and the surface morphology of PHB changed significantly. Weight reduction, crystallinity  reduction, and molecular  weight reduction  revealed of 22.91%, 57.44%, and 29.52% respectively.