Numerical study of biodegradation of xenobiotic polymers based on exogenous depolymerization model with time dependent degradation rate

A mathematical model for exogenous depolymerization with time dependent degradation rate is analyzed in order to study the biodegradation of polyethylene glycol. The weight distribution with respect to the molecular weight before and after cultivation of microorganisms were analyzed an inverse problem to determine the time dependent degradation rate. Numerical techniques to solve the inverse problem and to simulate the transition of the weight distribution are described.