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Biotransformation of an uncured composite materialThe feasibility of biologically degrading prepreg wastes was studied. The work was conducted with the intention of obtaining baseline data that would facilitate the achievement of two long-range goals. These goals are: (1) the biological remediation of the hazardous components in the prepreg wastes, and (2) providing the potential for recycling the prepreg waste fibers. The experiments examined a prepreg that employs an bismaleimide resin system. Initial results demonstrated an obvious deterioration of the prepreg material when incubated with several bacterial strains. The most active cultures were identified as a mixture of 'Bacillus cereus' and 'Pseudomonas sp'. Gas chromatography analyses revealed seven primary compounds in the resin mixture. Biotransformation studies, using the complete prepreg material, demonstrated on obvious loss of all seven organic compounds. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses resulted in structure assignments for the two primary components of the resin. Both were analogs of Bisphenol A; one being bismaleimide, and the other being Bisphenol A containing a diglycidyl moiety. The 'diglycidyl analog' was purified using thin-layer chromatography and the biotransformation of this compound (at 27 ug/ml bacterial culture) was monitored. After a seven-day incubation, approximately 40% of the organic compound was biotransformed. These results demonstrate the biotransformation of the prepreg resin and indicate that biological remediation of the prepreg wastes is feasible.
Document ID
19950016616
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Welsh, Clement J.
(Utah Univ. Salt Lake City, UT., United States)
Glass, Michael J.
(Utah Univ. Salt Lake City, UT., United States)
Cheslack, Brian
(EXTRA Research, Inc. Salt Lake City, UT, United States)
Pryor, Robert
(EXTRA Research, Inc. Salt Lake City, UT, United States)
Tran, Duan K.
(EXTRA Research, Inc. Salt Lake City, UT, United States)
Bowers-Irons, Gail
(EXTRA Research, Inc. Salt Lake City, UT, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1994
Publication Information
Publication: NASA. Goddard Space Flight Center, Environmental, Safety, and Health Considerations: Composite Materials in the Aerospace Industry
Subject Category
Composite Materials
Accession Number
95N23033
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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