Insight on how biopolymers recovered from aerobic granular wastewater sludge can reduce the flammability of synthetic polymers
Nam Kyeun Kim (The University of Auckland)
Richard Lin (The University of Auckland)
Debes Bhattacharyya (The University of Auckland)
Mark M.C. van Loosdrecht (TU Delft - BT/Environmental Biotechnology)
Yue Mei Lin (TU Delft - BT/Environmental Biotechnology)
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Abstract
Eco-friendly flame retardants are greatly required to meet the expectations of low-toxicity, environmental compatibility and sustainability. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), the biopolymers recovered from excess granular wastewater sludge, have been successfully incorporated into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) by a solution casting method. Self-extinguishment of EPS was observed in a vertical burn test. Positive effects of EPS on the reduction of heat release rate and CO emission of EPS/PVA composites were also demonstrated. The presence of various types of phosphates was detected in the EPS and a possible flame-retardant mechanism has been proposed. The investigation of using granular sludge EPS to reduce the flammability of synthetic polymers may open the possibility of converting wastewater sludge into bio phosphorus-based flame retardants.