Extended local similarity analysis (eLSA) reveals unique associations between bacterial community structure and odor emission during pig carcasses decomposition.

Soil burial and composting methods have been widely used for the disposal of pig carcasses. The relationship between bacterial community structure and odor emission was examined using extended local similarity analysis (eLSA) during the degradation of pig carcasses in soil and compost. In soil, Hyphomicrobium, Niastella, Rhodanobacter, Polaromonas, Dokdonella and Mesorhizobium were associated with the emission of sulfur-containing odors such as hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl disulfide. Sphingomonas, Rhodanobacter, Mesorhizobium, Dokdonella, Leucobacter and Truepera were associated with the emission of nitrogen-containing odors including ammonia and trimetylamine. In compost, however, Carnobacteriaceae, Lachnospiaceae and Clostridiales were highly correlated with the emission of sulfur-containing odors, while Rumincoccaceae was associated with the emission of nitrogen-containing odors. The emission of organic acids was closely related to Massilia, Sphaerobacter and Bradyrhizobiaceae in soil, but to Actinobacteria, Sporacetigenium, Micromonosporaceae and Solirubrobacteriales in compost. This study suggests that network analysis using eLSA is a useful strategy for exploring the mechanisms of odor emission during biodegradation of pig carcasses.

Effects of dry method esterification of starch on the degradation characteristics of starch/polylactic acid composites.

Maleic anhydride esterified corn starch was prepared by dry method. Esterified starch/polylactic acid (PLA) biodegradable composite was produced via melt extrusion method with blending maleic anhydride esterified corn starch and PLA. The influence of the dry method esterification of starch on the degradation characteristics of starch/PLA composites was investigated by the natural aging degradation which was soil burial method. Test results of mass loss rate showed that the first 30 days of degradation was mainly starch degradation, and the degradation rate of esterified starch/PLA (ES/PLA) was slower than that of native starch/PLA (NS/PLA). Therefore, the damage degree of ES/PLA on the surface and inside was smaller than that of NS/PLA, and the infrared absorption peak intensities of C-O, C=O and C-H were stronger than that of NS/PLA. With the increasing time of soil burial degradation, the damage degree of NS/PLA and ES/PLA on the exterior and interior were gradually increased, whereas the infrared absorption peak intensities of C-O, C=O and C-H were gradually decreased. The XRD diffraction peak intensity of PLA in composites showed an increased trend at first which was then followed by a decreased one along with the increasing time of soil burial degradation, indicating that the degradation of amorphous regions of PLA was earlier than its crystalline regions. When the soil burial time was the same, the diffraction peak intensity of PLA in ES/PLA was stronger than that of NS/PLA. If the degradation time was the same, T0, Ti and residual rate of thermal decomposition of NS/PLA were larger than those of ES/PLA. The tensile strength and bending strength of composites were decreased gradually with soil burial time increasing. Both the tensile strength and bending strength of ES/PLA were stronger than those of NS/PLA.