{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]],"date-time":"2026-03-13T18:11:57Z","timestamp":1773425517447,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]],"date-time":"2026-03-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1773360000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Shanxi Province Science and Technology Major Projects","award":["202401060301011"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["202401060301011"]}]},{"name":"Shanxi Key Laboratory of Efficient Hydrogen Storage & Production Technology, Shanxi Science and Technology Innovation Talent Team","award":["202204051001011"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["202204051001011"]}]},{"name":"Shanxi Key Laboratory of Efficient Hydrogen Storage & Production Technology, Shanxi Science and Technology Innovation Talent Team","award":["202304051001031"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["202304051001031"]}]},{"name":"Shanxi Provincial Higher Education Institutions Scientific and Technological Innovation Project","award":["2024L406"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2024L406"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Polymers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Large amounts of binder system waste are produced upon the recovery of energetic components in scrapped hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) propellant. This study investigated the biodegradability of the binder system waste using a microbial enrichment solution as the biodegradation medium. We measured the binder system weight loss and performed Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric (TG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses of the binder system after 60 days of biodegradation. The results show the binder system film weight decreased by approximately 43% and stabilized after 50 days. The FT-IR analysis shows a reduction in C=O and C-O bond signals, whereas N-H, C-N, and C=C bond signals remain nearly unchanged. The TG analysis shows that the difference between the DOA weight in the initial film and that of the thermal decomposition was almost equal to the weight loss of the binder system film after biodegradation. The SEM analysis shows irregular pits on the film. The binder system has a certain biodegradability, which is mainly caused by its plasticizer component, i.e., DOA. HTPB-based polyurethane, the other major component, is difficult to degrade by microorganisms. As such, the binder system was pretreated with sodium methoxide-methanol solution as a depolymerization reagent, and the pretreated product yielded higher biodegradability.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/polym18060706","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]],"date-time":"2026-03-13T17:36:48Z","timestamp":1773423408000},"page":"706","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Biodegradability of Binder System Waste from Hydroxyl-Terminated Polybutadiene Propellant and Pretreatment for Biodegradation"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"given":"Kai","family":"Wu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Frontier Cross-Disciplinary Research Center for Explosive Science and Microevidence Technology, Shanxi Police College, Taiyuan 030051, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Tao","family":"Chai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Environment and Safety Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Fei","family":"Hu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Environment and Safety Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5993-9456","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zhengmao","family":"Ding","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Pen-Tung Sah Institute of Micro-Nano Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chao","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Environment and Safety Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1016\/S0956-053X(97)10012-5","article-title":"An alternative to open burning treatment of solid propellant manufacturing wastes","volume":"17","author":"Borcherding","year":"1998","journal-title":"Waste Manag."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"898","DOI":"10.1007\/s10163-016-0495-y","article-title":"Successful plant scale production of solid propellant recycling from obsolete ammunition","volume":"19","author":"Shim","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Mater. Cycles Waste Manag."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"124","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jiec.2019.06.014","article-title":"Effect of a polymer binder on the extraction and crystallization-based recovery of HMX from polymer-bonded explosives","volume":"79","author":"Kim","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Ind. Eng. Chem."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2061","DOI":"10.1016\/j.arabjc.2014.12.033","article-title":"Solid propellants: AP\/HTPB composite propellants","volume":"12","author":"Chaturvedi","year":"2013","journal-title":"Arab. J. Chem."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"Tian, D.Y. (2013). Optimization and Design of Solid Propellant Formulation, National Defense Industry Press. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Pierre, G. (2012). Capabilities and Capacities: A Survey of South-East Europe\u2019s Demilitarization Infrastructure. Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies."},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"158","article-title":"A study on mechanical comminution of obsolete HTPB propellants from the rocket motor","volume":"71","author":"Wang","year":"2010","journal-title":"Sci. Technol. Energetic Mater."},{"key":"ref_8","first-page":"80","article-title":"Experimental research on treatment of waste hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene propellant","volume":"11","author":"Cheng","year":"2015","journal-title":"Chem. Propellants Polym. Mater."},{"key":"ref_9","first-page":"1087","article-title":"Thermal degradation of segmented polyurethanes","volume":"51","author":"Zavargo","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Appl. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1605","DOI":"10.1021\/ma00138a032","article-title":"Mechanism of thermal degradation of polyurethanes. Effect of ammonium polyphosphate","volume":"17","author":"Montaudo","year":"1984","journal-title":"Macromolecules"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02259024","article-title":"Thermal stability of polyurethanes","volume":"25","author":"Simon","year":"1988","journal-title":"Chromatographia"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1068","DOI":"10.1016\/j.progpolymsci.2009.06.002","article-title":"Thermal stability and flame retardancy of polyurethanes","volume":"34","author":"Webster","year":"2009","journal-title":"Prog. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1723","DOI":"10.1002\/1097-4628(20000822)77:8<1723::AID-APP9>3.0.CO;2-K","article-title":"Thermal stability of polyurethanes based on vegetable oils","volume":"77","author":"Javni","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Appl. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2347","DOI":"10.1002\/(SICI)1097-4628(19970620)64:12<2347::AID-APP9>3.0.CO;2-L","article-title":"Mechanical properties of HTPB-IPDI-based elastomers","volume":"64","author":"Haska","year":"1997","journal-title":"J. Appl. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"195","DOI":"10.1016\/j.polymdegradstab.2014.01.008","article-title":"Biodegradability of crude glycerol-based polyurethane foams during composting, anaerobic digestion and soil incubation","volume":"102","author":"Luo","year":"2014","journal-title":"Polym. Degrad. Stab."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"469","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2017.03.012","article-title":"Biodegradation of polyester polyurethane by Aspergillus tubingensis","volume":"225","author":"Khan","year":"2017","journal-title":"Environ. Pollut."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"349","DOI":"10.1016\/j.polymdegradstab.2016.11.003","article-title":"Degradation of polyester polyurethane by an indigenously developed consortium of Pseudomonas, and Bacillus, species isolated from soil","volume":"134","author":"Shah","year":"2016","journal-title":"Polym. Degrad. Stab."},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"8","article-title":"Biodegradation of Synthetic and Natural Plastic by Microorganisms","volume":"5","author":"Alshehrei","year":"2017","journal-title":"Appl. Environ. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5225","DOI":"10.1128\/AEM.01344-16","article-title":"Biodegradative activities of selected environmental fungi on a polyester polyurethane varnish and polyether polyurethane foams","volume":"82","year":"2016","journal-title":"Appl. Environ. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"623","DOI":"10.1186\/s13765-020-00511-3","article-title":"Biodegradation of polyethylene: A brief review","volume":"63","author":"Ghatge","year":"2020","journal-title":"Appl. Biol. Chem."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100","DOI":"10.1016\/j.marpolbul.2013.10.025","article-title":"Biodegradation of low-density polyethylene by marine bacteria from pelagic waters, Arabian Sea, India","volume":"77","author":"Harshvardhan","year":"2013","journal-title":"Mar. Pollut. Bull."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"83","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ibiod.2013.12.014","article-title":"Microbial degradation and deterioration of polyethylene\u2014A review","volume":"88","author":"Bassi","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.1080\/15583724.2018.1493694","article-title":"Advancements in the development of biostable polyurethanes","volume":"59","author":"Gunatillake","year":"2019","journal-title":"Polym. Rev."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.1016\/S0964-8305(02)00051-3","article-title":"Biodegradation of polyurethane: A review","volume":"49","author":"Howard","year":"2002","journal-title":"Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9529","DOI":"10.1007\/s11356-014-2647-8","article-title":"Degradation of polyurethane by bacterium isolated from soil and assessment of polyurethanolytic activity of a Pseudomonas putida strain","volume":"21","author":"Peng","year":"2014","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res."}],"container-title":["Polymers"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4360\/18\/6\/706\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]],"date-time":"2026-03-13T17:41:22Z","timestamp":1773423682000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4360\/18\/6\/706"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]]},"references-count":25,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3]]}},"alternative-id":["polym18060706"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/polym18060706","relation":{},"ISSN":["2073-4360"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2073-4360","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]]}}}