Fig. 5: Biodegradation test. | Nature Communications

Fig. 5: Biodegradation test.

From: Biocomposite thermoplastic polyurethanes containing evolved bacterial spores as living fillers to facilitate polymer disintegration

Fig. 5

Photographs depicting the visual changes observed in the disintegration (A) and mass loss profile (B) of degraded TPU and BC TPUs during 5 months of incubation in autoclaved compost at 37 °C with 45–55% relative humidity (scale bar: 10 mm). Data are presented as mean values ± standard deviations from three independent experiments. Two-way ANOVA, followed by a post-hoc test with Dunnett’s multiple comparisons (two-sided), was used for statistical comparison between TPU (control) and BC TPUs over time (n = 3 per data point; *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01). C Bacterial consortium analyzed from the autoclaved compost and TPU surfaces incubated in the autoclaved compost at t = 4 months. Source data and detailed statistical analysis results are provided as a Source Data file.

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