Anaerobic Degradability of Commercially Available Bio-Based and Oxo-Degradable Packaging Materials in the Context of their End of Life in the Waste Management Strategy

Abstract

There are discrepancies concerning the time frame for biodegradation of different commercially available foils labeled as biodegradable; thus, it is essential to provide information about their biodegradability in the context of their end of life in waste management. Therefore, one-year mesophilic (37 °C) anaerobic degradation tests of two bio-based foils (based on starch (FS), polylactic acid (FPLA)) and oxo-degradable material (FOXO) were conducted in an OxiTop system. Biodegradation was investigated by measuring biogas production (BP) and analyzing structural changes with differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing and digital microscopic analyses, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. After 1 year, FOXO had not degraded; thus, there were no visible changes on its surface and no BP. The bio-based materials produced small amounts of biogas (25.2, FPLA, and 30.4 L/kg VS, FS), constituting 2.1–2.5% of theoretical methane potential. The foil pieces were still visible and only starting to show damage; some pores had appeared in their structure. The structure of FPLA became more heterogeneous due to water diffusing into the structure. In contrast, the structure of FS became more homogenous although individual cracks and fissures appeared. The color of FS had changed, indicating that it was beginning to biodegrade. The fact that FS and FPLA showed only minor structural damage after a one-year mesophilic degradation indicates that, in these conditions, these materials would persist for an unknown but long amount of time.

Anaerobic digestion of commercial PLA and PBAT biodegradable plastic bags: Potential biogas production and 1H NMR and ATR-FTIR assessed biodegradation

“…According to previous studies the anaerobic biodegradability of different bioplastics is highly variable, even for bioplastics with the same main component [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Moreover, although the bioplastics comply with the EN 13432 standard, they might not biodegrade significantly under anaerobic conditions [ 21 ].…”

Waste management and green technology: future trends in circular economy leading towards environmental sustainability

“… 5. Bio-based WTM Biomass, Circular bioeconomy, Organic waste, Food waste, Biochar, Composting, Biorefinery, Fraction of MSTW, Tsai et al ( 2020 ), Kaszycki et al ( 2021 ), Santagata et al ( 2021 ), Imbert ( 2017 ), Zaborowska et al ( 2021 ), Elkhalifa et al ( 2019 ), Wojnowska-Baryła et al ( 2020 ), Rekleitis et al ( 2020 ), Ramesh Kumar et al ( 2020 ), Ng et al ( 2020 ). 6.…”

Anaerobic Biodegradability of Commercial Bioplastic Products: Systematic Bibliographic Analysis and Critical Assessment of the Latest Advances

“…Inoculum: anaerobic sludge from an anaerobic digestion plant treating effluents from a brewery Method: ASTM D5526-94d. 32 220 [ 120 ] Mater-Bi Mater-Bi bags 10 × 10 mm film 37 Inoculum: anaerobic sludge from an anaerobic digestion plant treating municipal wastewater 180 30.4 2.9 X FTIR, DSC, microscopy x [ 121 ] Mater-Bi Mater-Bi coffee capsules <1 mm 38 Inoculum: sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, acclimated in the lab at 38 °C. Digestion conditions: ISR = 2.7 (VS basis), VS content = 9 g/L 100 67 12 …”