ANZIAM J. 47(EMAC2005) pp.C665--C681, 2007.

Mathematical study of the biodegradation of xenobiotic polymers with experimental data introduced into analysis

M. Watanabe

F. Kawai

(Received 27 May 2006; revised 21 April 2007)

Abstract

A mathematical model for a microbial depolymerization process is analyzed numerically in order to study the biodegradation of a xenobiotic polymer. The weight distribution of a polymer with respect to the molecular weight before and after cultivation of microorganisms are introduced into computational analysis. A time dependent degradation rate is determined by solving an inverse problem, and the transition of the weight distribution is simulated. The result shows that the mathematical model is practically appropriate, and the oxidation is the primary factor in the biodegradation of the polymer. The techniques that can be extended to cover the biodegradation of other polymers are illustrated.

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Authors

M. Watanabe
Graduate School of Environmental Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan. mailto:watanabe@ems.okayama-u.ac.jp
F. Kawai
Research Institute for Bioresources, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.

Published June 6, 2007. ISSN 1446-8735

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Copyright Austral. Mathematical Soc.; prepared June 6, 2007, from Watanabe.tex with anziamje.sty (v2.4)