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(Bio)degradable Biochar Composites of PLA/P(3HB-co-4HB) Commercial Blend for Sustainable Future—Study on Degradation and Electrostatic Properties
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Researchers studied biodegradable polymer composites made from PLA and P(3HB-co-4HB) blended with biochar as a natural filler. The study found that adding biochar improved electrostatic properties and influenced degradation behavior, suggesting these composites could serve as more sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics while reducing microplastic generation.
Interesting alternatives to expensive biodegradable polymers are their composites with natural fillers. The addition of biochar to a blend of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) was studied, and the resulting materials were evaluated for their properties and changes during degradation. Introducing biochar as a filler brought a noticeable improvement in electrostatic properties. Surface resistivity decreased from 3.80 × 1012 for the sample without biochar to 1.32 × 1012 for the sample with 30% filler content. Degradation tests revealed distinct differences in the degradation profile for composites due to the presence of filler. Composites with a lower biochar content displayed curling crack edges during hydrolytic degradation, and when the filler content reached 20 wt%, PLA loss accelerated. This study suggests that biochar-based composites have potential to be used as sustainable materials with improved properties.
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Synthesis and Study of Fully Biodegradable Composites Based on Poly(butylene succinate) and Biochar
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Researchers synthesized poly(butylene succinate) biocomposites containing up to 5% biochar and found that incorporating biochar improved thermal stability and altered mechanical properties, offering a pathway to fully biodegradable materials that could help address microplastic pollution from conventional plastics.
Enhancing PolyelectrolyteStrength of Biopolymersfor Fully Recyclable and Biodegradable Plastics
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Researchers developed a fully recyclable and biodegradable plastic material created through solid polyelectrolyte complexation of naturally occurring biopolymers, enhancing their polyelectrolyte strength to achieve mechanical properties competitive with conventional single-use packaging plastics. The study demonstrated that this approach addresses both the microplastic pollution problem and fossil fuel dependence while enabling end-of-life recyclability.
Microplastic Removal from Wastewater Using Biochar Based Composite
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This book chapter describes how biochar-based composites can be used as adsorbents for removing microplastics from wastewater, reviewing the mechanisms of plastic particle capture and the performance of biochar materials compared to conventional treatment approaches.
Removal of micro- and nano-plastics from aqueous matrices using modified biochar – A review of synthesis, applications, interaction, and regeneration
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This review examines how modified biochar materials can be used to remove micro- and nanoplastics from water. Researchers found that chemical functionalization and nanoparticle integration of biochar significantly improve its ability to capture plastic particles through mechanisms like electrostatic interaction and physical adsorption. The study also highlights challenges in regenerating used biochar for sustainable reuse in water treatment applications.
Study on Simulated Adsorption of Two Kinds of Biochar on Different Degradable Microplastics
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.