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Polylactic Acid Nonwoven Fabric-Based Plant Culture Medium Using Improved Melt-Blowing Method
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Researchers developed polylactic acid nonwoven fabric as a biodegradable growing medium for plants, as an alternative to non-biodegradable materials like polyester fiber and rockwool that can break down into microplastics. The PLA fabric showed suitable moisture retention for plant cultivation and would not persist in the environment after use.
In a previous study, soil substitutes, such as polyester fiber and rockwool medium, were used as solid medium for plant cultivation. However, these media are not biodegradable and aggravate environmental pollution. Furthermore, as they disintegrate into microplastics, they can damage and destroy ecosystems. Therefore, replacements with biodegradable materials are necessary. To that end, an improved melt-blowing method has been developed previously that facilitates a stable manufacturing process for the mass production of semi-microfiber nonwoven fabrics of lipophilic polypropylene. In addition, high oil adsorption was achieved based on the trial-produced nanofibers. In the present report, we focused on the hydrophilic and biodegradable features of polylactic acid (PLA) produced by the improved melt-blowing method and examined its application as a fiber-aggregate-based culture medium. Several plants were cultivated using trial-produced PLA nanofibers, and the influence of different fiber diameters and bulk densities on moisture content and matric potential was also investigated. The results show that PLA fibers can be used to successfully cultivate plants.
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Impact of Polylactic Acid Fibers in Cellulose Nonwoven Mulch Blends on Biodegradability and Performance—An Open Field Study
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This field study tested biodegradable nonwoven mulches made from natural fibers like jute, hemp, and viscose as alternatives to traditional plastic agricultural film. Researchers found that adding polylactic acid (PLA) fibers to the blends slowed degradation, which could help the mulches last longer during the growing season but may delay their complete breakdown in soil.
Effect of molecular weight on the properties and structure of biodegradable Poly-lactic acid melt-blown nonwovens
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Researchers produced polylactic acid biodegradable nonwoven fabrics by varying the polymer's molecular weight, finding that lower molecular weight PLA crystallized more readily and formed finer fibers. Higher molecular weight PLA produced thicker, more water-resistant fibers with different mechanical properties.
Polylactic Acid: A Bio-Based Polymer as an Emerging Substitute for Plastics
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This review covers polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable plant-based polymer being developed as a more sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. PLA can be used for packaging and other applications, but improving its performance and reducing production costs remain challenges for wider adoption.
Bioabsorbable Characteristics of Poly (Lactic Acid) (PLA) for a Fundamental Solution to the Problem of Microplastics Tea Bag SOILON® Made from PLA Fibers
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This review examines the biodegradation characteristics of polylactic acid (PLA) materials, discussing the enzymatic and environmental conditions needed for effective breakdown and evaluating PLA's potential as a genuinely biodegradable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics.
Not so biodegradable: Polylactic acid and cellulose/plastic blend textiles lack fast biodegradation in marine waters
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Researchers tested whether textiles made from polylactic acid (PLA), often marketed as biodegradable, actually break down in ocean conditions. They found that PLA fabrics showed no meaningful biodegradation in marine water over the study period, behaving much like conventional plastics. This is important because consumers and manufacturers may falsely believe these materials will not contribute to ocean microplastic pollution.
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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.