Multi-faceted analysis of thermophilic anaerobic biodegradation of poly(lactic acid)-based material

Zaborowska, Magdalena; Bernat, Katarzyna; Pszczółkowski, Bartosz; Cydzik‐Kwiatkowska, Agnieszka; Kulikowska, Dorota; Wojnowska‐Baryła, Irena

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2022.10.031

Cited by 14 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most widely used bio-based and biodegradable plastic that is applied widely as packaging materials to produce disposable cups, bowls, and bottles 26,27 . Unfortunately, PLA only degrades readily in industrial composting as well as in anaerobic digesters at thermophilic temperatures 28,29 . Starch-based plastics are produced from thermoplastic starch that is lent with enhanced physical and mechanical properties, such as stiffness and strength.…”

Section: Biodegradability Standards and Common Biodegradable Polymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unlocking the Potentials of Biodegradable Plastics with Proper Management and Evaluation at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations

Yu,

Flury

2024

npj Mater. Sustain.

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Biodegradable plastics have been proposed as an alternative to conventional plastics for many applications, such as single-use plastic bags, disposable cutleries and tablewares, and agricultural plastic mulch films. However, concerns have arisen about environmental sustainability of biodegradable plastics, especially regarding degradability, generation of biodegradable micro- and nanoplastics, and release of additives. Here, we critically evaluate literature on the degradation and ecotoxicity of biodegradable plastics with the consideration of environmentally relevant concentrations. Our evaluation suggests that, provided with proper disposal and full biodegradation, biodegradable plastics, including biodegradable micro- and nanoplastics, would not accumulate substantially in the environment and would be far from reaching concentrations at which negative impacts on ecosystems can be expected. In addition, we highlight existing regulatory efforts to prevent adverse ecotoxicity of biodegradable plastics. To ensure timely biodegradation under various disposal conditions, we propose to calibrate the actual biodegradability in disposal environments against the intrinsic biodegradability in standards. Further, we recommend to supplement biodegradability certificates on biodegradable plastics with clear disposal instructions, to ensure proper end-of-life management. With proper testing, comprehensive labeling, and effective management, we believe that, for certain applications, biodegradable plastics are a promising substitute for conventional plastics.

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Section: Biodegradability Standards and Common Biodegradable Polymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unlocking the Potentials of Biodegradable Plastics with Proper Management and Evaluation at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations

Yu,

Flury

2024

npj Mater. Sustain.

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“…It was observed that PLA degradation into lactic acid oligomers begins when a molecular weight drop to below 10,000 Da [ 79 ] and the main enzymes involved are proteases and lipases [ 82 , 83 ]. The same enzymes were found to be responsible for PCL ester bond cleavage [ 47 ]; as a result of such bond breaking, the polymer is broken down to carboxyl terminal groups and 6-hydroxylcaproic acid [ 45 ].…”

Section: Bioplastics Biodegradationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… biogas PLA cup 10 × 10 mm 55 100 448 96 Hydrothermal pretreatment (2 h 90 °C) FTIR, DSC, opt. microscopy [ 82 ] PLA cup 10 × 10 mm 55 100 448 96 Alkaline pretreatment (2 h 0.1 M KOH, Tamb) FTIR, DSC, opt. microscopy PLA PLA Commercial items 55 Plastic: 1 g. Inoculum: 10 mL of anaerobic inoculum 56 225 48.2 Steam exposition, 3 h 120 °C …”

Section: Table A1mentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2023

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Bioplastics have entered everyday life as a potential sustainable substitute for commodity plastics. However, still further progress should be made to clarify their degradation behavior under controlled and uncontrolled conditions. The wide array of biopolymers and commercial blends available make predicting the biodegradation degree and kinetics quite a complex issue that requires specific knowledge of the multiple factors affecting the degradation process. This paper summarizes the main scientific literature on anaerobic digestion of biodegradable plastics through a general bibliographic analysis and a more detailed discussion of specific results from relevant experimental studies. The critical analysis of literature data initially included 275 scientific references, which were then screened for duplication/pertinence/relevance. The screened references were analyzed to derive some general features of the research profile, trends, and evolution in the field of anaerobic biodegradation of bioplastics. The second stage of the analysis involved extracting detailed results about bioplastic degradability under anaerobic conditions by screening analytical and performance data on biodegradation performance for different types of bioplastic products and different anaerobic biodegradation conditions, with a particular emphasis on the most recent data. A critical overview of existing biopolymers is presented, along with their properties and degradation mechanisms and the operating parameters influencing/enhancing the degradation process under anaerobic conditions.

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“…The PLA plates had the highest volatile solids content (99.5% d.w.), while the minimum value was found in the compost (48.2% d.w.). These values are in agreement with typical values found in PLA products (i.e., 88-99% d.w. [25,26]), while the volatile solids content of the compost may vary considerably and can reach up to 85% d.w. [27,28] depending on the source of the organic waste. The organic matter content of the compost used here is indicative of a stable compost.…”

Section: Moisture Content and Total Solids Of Biomaterialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation of Two Biodegradability Indices of PLA-Based Polymers under Thermophilic Aerobic Laboratory Conditions

Melitou,

Gerassimidou,

Averopoulou

et al. 2023

Sustainability

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The biodegradation of bioplastics is a topic of interest worldwide. This work aims to measure the biodegradability of five polylactic acid (PLA)-based bioplastics under aerobic, thermophilic laboratory conditions and correlate their weight loss with their CO2 generation over a 3-month period, as both are considered indexes of biodegradation. The experimental design was based on the simulation of composting conditions by placing the bioplastic samples mixed with compost in sealed glass vessels that were regularly opened. The results showed significant variability in biodegradation, as dry weight losses ranged from 15.1–99.7%, while CO2 generation ranged from 9.2–14.9 g C–CO2/kg dry mixture (bioplastic + inoculum) depending on the sample. Moreover, no significant correlation between the weight losses and the gross CO2 production was calculated (p = 0.656), indicating the importance of carefully selecting the methods to assess biodegradation potential. This lack of correlation also reveals that different pathways are likely involved during the biodegradation of bioplastics and that the weight loss alone cannot indicate the conversion of solid C to CO2. This work proposes the need to develop an optimal degradation index for bioplastics that would provide a better understanding of their biodegradability in composting reactors. This index should combine dry weight loss and CO2 generation to assess the biodegradation of bioplastics with high confidence.

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Multi-faceted analysis of thermophilic anaerobic biodegradation of poly(lactic acid)-based material

Cited by 14 publications

References 60 publications

Unlocking the Potentials of Biodegradable Plastics with Proper Management and Evaluation at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations

Unlocking the Potentials of Biodegradable Plastics with Proper Management and Evaluation at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations

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

Correlation of Two Biodegradability Indices of PLA-Based Polymers under Thermophilic Aerobic Laboratory Conditions

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