The biodegradability of vinyl acetate acrylate resin and corn starch blend was studied by determination of the reduced sugars produced after enzymatic hydrolysis. The starch hydrolysis reaction by α-amylase was achieved within 5 minutes. Optimal ranges of temperature and pH for the starch hydrolysis by α-amylase were around 80 oC and 6.5-7.2, respectively.
The biodegradability of the starch-filled acrylate films increased as the content of starch increased. The biodegradation of starch in the starch-filled acrylate film by α-amylase was about 48.6% of that of pure starch. This value of biodegradable starch-filled acrylate film gave a good result with enzymatic shortcut test. The surface morphologies of the starch-filled acrylate film after enzymatic hydrolysis were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

• 김정두(부경대학교 응용화학공학부) | Jung-Du Kim
• 유수용(부경대학교 응용화학공학부) | Su-Yong Yoo
• 감상규(제주대학교 토목환경공학부) | Sang-Kyu Kam
• 주창식(부경대학교 응용화학공학부) | Chang-Sik Ju
• 이민규(부경대학교 응용화학공학부) | Min-Gyu Lee Corresponding Author