Physicochemical Assessment of the Biodegradability of Agricultural Nonwovens Made of PLA

Abstract

Compostable biodegradable plastics are an ecological alternative to traditional products based on petroleum derivatives, whose post-use waste may pollute the natural environment. Modern polymer materials show the functional properties of plastics obtained by conventional methods, but they also may be degraded as a result of biochemical transformations in composting. This allows such materials to be included in the scheme of the currently implemented circular economy, which does not generate post-consumer waste. This paper presents methods for the assessment of the biodegradation process of selected agricultural nonwovens produced from commercial PLA 6252D polylactide, supplied by Nature Works® LLC, USA. The agricultural nonwovens tested, obtained by the spun-bond technique, were characterised by different degrees of crystallinity in the range from 11.1% to 31.4%. Biodegradation tests were carried out as simulated aerobic composting while maintaining constant environmental conditions in accordance with test procedures based on PN-EN/ISO standards using the method of sample mass loss determination. Gel chromatography (GPC/SEC) and FTIR spectroscopy were also applied to assess the degree of biodegradation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the crystallinity of nonwoven made of PLA 6252 D on its degradation in a compost environment.

Grafting of maleic anhydride on poly(lactic acid)/hydroxyapatite composites augments their ability to support osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

“…Bands in the range 1250–1050 cm −1 could be attributed to the C-O-C group, while bands at around 860, 760, and 700 cm −1 could be attributed to out-of-plane CH 2 deformation, CO 2 scissoring, and out-of-plane COH deformation, respectively. 44…”

“…Bands in the range 1250-1050 cm À1 could be attributed to the C-O-C group, while bands at around 860, 760, and 700 cm À1 could be attributed to outof-plane CH 2 deformation, CO 2 scissoring, and out-ofplane COH deformation, respectively. 44 Since the samples showed no significant differences in the efficiency of the grafting process, the 1% MAPLA sample was selected for the preparation of the 3D-printed PLAg/HA composites. Further investigation of changes in the chemical structure of the grafted PLA, compared to pure PLA, was performed using 1 H NMR (Figure 3).…”

Modification of Poly(lactic acid) by the Plasticization for Application in the Packaging Industry

“…This peak (Figure 10-No 2) was deformed only after modification by ADO and SDO. In the spectrum of plasticizers (Figure 11-No.2) the peak around 1730 cm −1 for the ester group was observed [51]. For plasticized PLA by ADO (sample 4) and SDO (sample 5), the deformation in the range of 1750-1760 cm −1 was observed.…”

Poly(lactic Acid): A Versatile Biobased Polymer for the Future with Multifunctional Properties—From Monomer Synthesis, Polymerization Techniques and Molecular Weight Increase to PLA Applications

“…Agricultural nonwoven PLA fibers were completely decomposed in simulated laboratory composting during 16 weeks of incubation. The total sensitivity to degradation in compost is also confirmed by observation of changes in appearance and the structure of the samples using SEM [ 157 ].…”