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Biodegradability of Innovative Bio-Based Films Enriched with Monoammonium Phosphate
Summary
Novel bio-based mulch films made from chitosan, carboxymethyl cellulose, and sodium alginate in a 1:1 ratio achieved over 90% biodegradation within 120 days under soil conditions, confirmed by isotopic tracing and pyrolysis-GC-MS analysis. These biodegradable alternatives directly address agricultural plastic mulch as one of the primary sources of microplastic contamination in farmland soils worldwide.
The widespread use of conventional plastic mulch films in agriculture contributes significantly to soil pollution due to their non-biodegradable nature. This study explores the potential of novel bio-based mulch films composed of chitosan, carboxymethyl cellulose, and sodium alginate, formulated in different ratios (1:1 and 17:3), with or without enrichment with monoammonium phosphate (MAP), to serve as biodegradable films with potential nutrient-releasing functionality as alternatives to conventional plastics. A multi-analytical approach, including elemental and isotopic analysis (EA-IRMS), biodegradation assays, and pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), was employed to assess their chemical properties, degradation behavior, and environmental compatibility. The results demonstrated that the 1:1 films, both with and without MAP, achieved over 90% biodegradation within 120 days under controlled soil conditions, in agreement with international criteria for soil biodegradability. In contrast, the 17:3 films showed reduced degradation, especially without MAP enrichment, highlighting the influence of polymer composition on microbial degradation. Isotopic tracing confirmed MAP integration and revealed composition-dependent fractionation effects. Py-GC-MS provided structural fingerprints of film components and putatively annotated nitrogen-containing compounds indicative of chitosan presence. Overall, these results demonstrate that the 1:1 films can be considered viable, multifunctional, and soil-friendly alternatives to conventional plastic mulches for sustainable agriculture.