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Biodegradation of Wasted Bioplastics in Natural and Industrial Environments: A Review

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  • Adele Folino

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, dell’Energia, dell’Ambiente e dei Materiali, Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, I-89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy)

  • Aimilia Karageorgiou

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67132 Xanthi, Greece)

  • Paolo S. Calabrò

    (Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, dell’Energia, dell’Ambiente e dei Materiali, Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, I-89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy)

  • Dimitrios Komilis

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67132 Xanthi, Greece)

Abstract

The problems linked to plastic wastes have led to the development of biodegradable plastics. More specifically, biodegradable bioplastics are the polymers that are mineralized into carbon dioxide, methane, water, inorganic compounds, or biomass through the enzymatic action of specific microorganisms. They could, therefore, be a suitable and environmentally friendly substitute to conventional petrochemical plastics. The physico-chemical structure of the biopolymers, the environmental conditions, as well as the microbial populations to which the bioplastics are exposed to are the most influential factors to biodegradation. This process can occur in both natural and industrial environments, in aerobic and anaerobic conditions, with the latter being the least researched. The examined aerobic environments include compost, soil, and some aquatic environments, whereas the anaerobic environments include anaerobic digestion plants and a few aquatic habitats. This review investigates both the extent and the biodegradation rates under different environments and explores the state-of-the-art knowledge of the environmental and biological factors involved in biodegradation. Moreover, the review demonstrates the need for more research on the long-term fate of bioplastics under natural and industrial (engineered) environments. However, bioplastics cannot be considered a panacea when dealing with the elimination of plastic pollution.

Suggested Citation

  • Adele Folino & Aimilia Karageorgiou & Paolo S. Calabrò & Dimitrios Komilis, 2020. "Biodegradation of Wasted Bioplastics in Natural and Industrial Environments: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-49, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:15:p:6030-:d:390607
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elsawy, Moataz A. & Kim, Ki-Hyun & Park, Jae-Woo & Deep, Akash, 2017. "Hydrolytic degradation of polylactic acid (PLA) and its composites," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1346-1352.
    2. Mairon G. Bastos Lima, 2018. "Toward Multipurpose Agriculture: Food, Fuels, Flex Crops, and Prospects for a Bioeconomy," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 18(2), pages 143-150, May.
    3. Maurizio Prosperi & Roberta Sisto & Mariarosaria Lombardi & Xueqin Zhu, 2018. "Production of bioplastics for agricultural purposes: A supply chain study," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(1), pages 119-136.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ayşe Lisa Allison & Fabiana Lorencatto & Susan Michie & Mark Miodownik, 2021. "Barriers and Enablers to Buying Biodegradable and Compostable Plastic Packaging," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, January.
    2. Natasya Nabilla Hairon Azhar & Desmond Teck-Chye Ang & Rosazlin Abdullah & Jennifer Ann Harikrishna & Acga Cheng, 2022. "Bio-Based Materials Riding the Wave of Sustainability: Common Misconceptions, Opportunities, Challenges and the Way Forward," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Dimitra Melitou & Spyridoula Gerassimidou & Athanassia Averopoulou & Dimitrios Komilis, 2023. "Correlation of Two Biodegradability Indices of PLA-Based Polymers under Thermophilic Aerobic Laboratory Conditions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-13, July.
    4. Zhao, Shufeng & Guo, Hongyu & Liu, Ang & Chen, Zhenhong & Li, Guofu & Chen, Linyong & Shen, Ye, 2024. "Methane production and microbial community characteristics in the co-digestion of biodegradable plastics with lignite," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    5. Yong, Wilson Thau Lym & Thien, Vun Yee & Rupert, Rennielyn & Rodrigues, Kenneth Francis, 2022. "Seaweed: A potential climate change solution," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).

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