Evaluación del uso de la radiación ultravioleta de onda corta (UV-C) como método de esterilización de bioplásticos

Abstract

Microorganisms with inadequate control can affect human beings and can influence the environment as well. Different research suggests that microorganisms influence bioplastics by affecting their structure, and it is currently very important to study these either directly or indirectly. The objective of this qualification work was the use of short-wave ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) as a method of sterilization of bioplastics. The research was carried out based on articles on ultraviolet radiation dose for the reduction of microorganisms in fruits, and by means of this it was determined which is the ideal exposure time of the bioplastic sheets, on the other hand, for the quantification of microorganisms mass seeding was used and the results obtained were analyzed through the statistical tool Stat graphics, by means of which the existing effect on the related variables (radiation dose, degradation medium and degradability) was identified. Through this research and using the analysis of variance, it was determined that ultraviolet radiation significantly reduces microorganisms, the highest and most effective sterilization dose was 24000 J/m^2, however, the bioplastic sheets were not completely clean since they still had a small amount of microorganisms and with respect to degradability, these were mostly influenced by the medium regardless of the radiation used. For this reason, it is recommended to use a higher radiation while analyzing with a scanning microscope the possible affectations to the sheets, since during the application of the highest radiation a momentary deformation occurred.