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Biodegradable PBAT/PLA blend with bioactive MCPA-PHBV conjugate suppresses weed growth
Kwiecień, Iwona Adamus, Grazyna Jiang, Guozhan Radecka, Iza Baldwin, Timothy C. Khan, Habib R. Johnston, Brian Pennetta, Valentina Hill, David Bretz, Inna
Kwiecień, Iwona
Adamus, Grazyna
Jiang, Guozhan
Radecka, Iza
Baldwin, Timothy C.
Khan, Habib R.
Johnston, Brian
Pennetta, Valentina
Hill, David
Bretz, Inna
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2017-12-20
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Abstract
The herbicide 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) conjugated with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) was prepared via a melt transesterification route. The resultant bioactive oligomer was then mixed with a blend of polylactide (PLA) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) with different loadings; to manufacture films to be used as a bioactive, biodegradable mulch to deliver the herbicide to target broadleaf weed species. The biological targeting of the MCPA-PHBV conjugate in the mulch film was investigated under glasshouse conditions using faba bean (Vicia faba) as a selective (non-target) model crop species having broadleaf morphology. The presence of the MCPA-PHBV conjugate in the biodegradable PBTA/PLA blend was shown to completely suppress the growth of broadleaf weed species, whilst displaying only a mild effect on the growth of the model crop. The degradation of the mulch film under glasshouse conditions was quite slow. The release of the MCPA-PHBV during this process was detected using NMR, GPC, EDS and DSC analyses, indicating that the majority of the MCPA diffused out after MCPA-PHBV conjugate bond scission. These data provide a strong “proof of concept” and show that this biodegradable, bioactive film is a good candidate for future field applications and may be of wide agricultural applicability.
Citation
Kwiecien I., Adamus G., Jiang G., Radecka I., Baldwin TC., Khan HR., Johnston B., Pennetta V., Hill D., Bretz I., Kowalczuk M. (2017) 'Biodegradable PBAT/PLA blend with bioactive MCPA-PHBV conjugate suppresses weed growth', Biomacromolecules, 19 (2) pp. 511–520
doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.7b01636
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Journal article
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en
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This document is confidential and is proprietary to the American Chemical Society and its authors. Do not copy or disclose without written permission.
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1525-7797
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This work was funded by the Research Investment Fund, University of Wolverhampton (Wolverhampton, UK).