IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i14p11411-d1200412.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • Dimitra Melitou

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, GR 67100 Xanthi, Greece)

  • Spyridoula Gerassimidou

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, GR 67100 Xanthi, Greece)

  • Athanassia Averopoulou

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, GR 67100 Xanthi, Greece)

  • Dimitrios Komilis

    (Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, GR 67100 Xanthi, Greece)

Abstract

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 CO 2 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 CO 2 generation ranged from 9.2–14.9 g C–CO 2 /kg dry mixture (bioplastic + inoculum) depending on the sample. Moreover, no significant correlation between the weight losses and the gross CO 2 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 CO 2 . 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 CO 2 generation to assess the biodegradation of bioplastics with high confidence.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:14:p:11411-:d:1200412
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/14/11411/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/14/11411/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. 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).
    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. 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).
    4. 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.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:14:p:11411-:d:1200412. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.