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Assessment of the Biodegradability and Compostability of Finished Leathers: Analysis Using Spectroscopy and Thermal Methods
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Researchers assessed the biodegradability and compostability of flexible packaging films, testing whether they meet international standards for industrial composting. Results showed that only materials explicitly designed for composting degraded sufficiently, while conventional films persisted and generated microplastic fragments.
In this study, the biodegradation properties of leather treated with various finishing chemicals were evaluated in order to enhance the sustainability of leather processing. We applied advanced analytical techniques, including FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Leather samples treated with different polymers, resins, bio-based materials, and traditional finishing agents were subjected to a composting process under controlled conditions to measure their biodegradability. The findings revealed that bio-based polyurethane finishes and acrylic wax exhibited biodegradability, while traditional chemical finishes like isocyanate and nitrocellulose lacquer showed moderate biodegradation levels. The results indicated significant differences in the biodegradation rates and the impact on plant germination and growth. Some materials, such as black pigment, nitrocellulose lacquer and wax, were beneficial for plant growth, while others, such as polyurethane materials, had adverse effects. These results support the use of eco-friendly finishes to reduce the environmental footprint of leather production. Overall, this study underscores the importance of selecting sustainable finishing chemicals to promote eco-friendly leather-manufacturing practices.
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Chemical-Physical Characterization of Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics in View of Identifying Suitable Recycling/Recovery Strategies and Numerical Modeling of PLA Pyrolysis
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Researchers characterized several bio-based and biodegradable polymer alternatives to conventional plastics using chemical-physical methods, assessing their suitability for industrial composting and identifying challenges in managing these bioplastics in the existing waste stream.
What happens to biodegradable plastics in soil and compost? : development and comparison of methods
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This thesis investigated the degradation behavior of biodegradable plastics in compost and soil environments, developing and comparing analytical methods for tracking breakdown rates and products. Researchers found that current composting conditions frequently result in incomplete biodegradable plastic degradation before the compost is applied to agricultural soils. The study provides a methodological foundation for standardizing biodegradable plastic degradation assessment, with implications for whether so-called compostable plastics actually prevent microplastic accumulation in soils.
Mechanistic understanding of plastic biodegradation in compost: how do copolymer blends and product shape influence the fragmentation behaviour?
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A study examined how copolymer blends and product shape affect how biodegradable plastics fragment in compost. Even plastics labeled as biodegradable do not always break down completely and can leave behind microplastic fragments depending on their composition and form. The findings suggest that material design and composting conditions must both be optimized to prevent biodegradable plastics from becoming a microplastic source.
Performance Spectrum of Home-Compostable Biopolymer Fibers Compared to a Petrochemical Alternative
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Researchers compared home-compostable biopolymer fibers to conventional petrochemical alternatives, evaluating their mechanical performance and degradability to assess whether biobased materials can serve as viable substitutes that reduce microplastic pollution.
Soil-biodegradable mulch film: Distinguishing between persistent microplastics and fragments released from certified soil-biodegradable products
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Researchers incubated a certified soil-biodegradable mulch film in agricultural soil and used μ-FTIR microscopy to track fragmentation and biodegradation kinetics, distinguishing between fragments that biodegraded within the study period and those that would persist as microplastics.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.