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Biodegradation of Hemicellulose-Cellulose-Starch-Based Bioplastics and Microbial Polyesters
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This review examines the biodegradation of hemicellulose-, cellulose-, starch-, and microbial polyester-based bioplastics across different environments, highlighting that degradation rates vary widely by material type, microbial community, temperature, and humidity.
The volume of discarded solid wastes, especially plastic, which accumulates in large quantities in different environments, has substantially increased. Population growth and the consumption pattern of societies associated with unsustainable production routes have caused the pollution level to increase. Therefore, the development of materials that help mitigate the impacts of plastics is fundamental. However, bioplastics can result in a misunderstanding about their properties and environmental impacts, as well as incorrect management of their final disposition, from misidentifications and classifications. This chapter addresses the aspects and factors surrounding the biodegradation of bioplastics from natural (plant biomass (starch, lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and starch) and bacterial polyester polymers. Therefore, the biodegradation of bioplastics is a factor that must be studied, because due to the increase in the production of different bioplastics, they may present differences in the decomposition rates.
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This review provides an overview of how biodegradable plastics degrade under different environmental conditions including soil, freshwater, marine, and composting environments. It finds that biodegradability is a material property strongly dependent on environmental conditions, and that many so-called biodegradable plastics degrade far more slowly in nature than in controlled test conditions.
Comparison of the aerobic biodegradation of biopolymers and the corresponding bioplastics: A review
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Researchers compared how quickly biodegradable bioplastics break down in soil versus their natural parent materials — like starch, cellulose, and lignin — finding that chemical modifications made during manufacturing significantly change which microbes and enzymes are needed for degradation. The review concludes that lab-based biodegradation studies often miss real-world complexity, and long-term field experiments are urgently needed to validate biodegradability claims for bioplastics.
The Biodegradation of Plastic by Microorganisms
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This review examines how the chemical composition of plastics influences their susceptibility to biodegradation by microorganisms, discussing the diverse biophysical-chemical properties of synthetic polymers that affect microbial degradation rates across different environmental contexts.
Biodegradation of Different Types of Bioplastics through Composting—A Recent Trend in Green Recycling
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This review examines the biodegradation of various bioplastics through composting and other environments. Researchers found that while bioplastics offer a promising sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, their degradation rates are highly dependent on environmental conditions, and concerns remain about their leakage into the environment and long degradation timeframes during waste management.
Biodegradability of Bioplastics in Managed and Unmanaged Environments: A Comprehensive Review
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This review comprehensively examines how well different bioplastics biodegrade across both controlled environments — such as industrial composting and anaerobic digestion — and natural settings like soil, seawater, and freshwater, finding that biodegradation efficacy varies widely by material type and environmental conditions, with many bioplastics still poorly characterized.
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