HECOL476 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Biodegradation, Cellulase, Nyishi (Tribe)

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Human Ecology
• Course: HECOL476
• Professor: Jane Batcheller

Document Summary

Any undesirable change in the properties of material caused by the vital activities of organisms. In living and dead creatures, as well as plants. Often associated with disease = fear of bacteria. Any plant without leaves, owers, or green colouring. Desirable in textiles which we have disposed of. Necessary to break down waste materials into their basic elements. Break down the polymers into digestible components for the microorganisms. Attack by extracellular enzymes that are produced by the organisms for the purpose of obtaining food. Enzyme mechanism depends on the nature of the bre. Components like a plasticizer or nishing agent on the fabric. Soil/dirt that has accumulated on the fabric surface. Mechanisms of degradation depends on the bre type. Breakage of glucosidic bond by reaction with water, hydrolysis. In the presence of cellulase, the enzyme will speed up the process. A long chain of cellulose cannot be digested by microorganisms.