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(Bio)degradation of biopolymer and biocomposite in deep-sea environments
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Researchers tested the biodegradation of biopolymers and biocomposites in deep-sea environments, finding that materials shown to degrade in coastal marine settings performed markedly differently under the extreme pressure, low temperature, and reduced microbial activity characteristic of deep-ocean conditions, raising questions about their suitability as marine plastic alternatives.
In order to reduce the contamination of marine ecosystems by plastic materials, the scientific community is engaged in the development of biodegradable substitutes for conventional plastics. While certain candidates have been successfully tested in coastal marine environments, the degradation process in deep-sea environments remains poorly understood. This study examined the degradation of two industrial biopolyesters, a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and a polybutylene-succinate (PBS), in two deep marine environments of the Middle and Eastern Atlantic, at depths of 780 and 1740 m, as well as under laboratory conditions under hydrostatic pressure and without micro-organisms. The findings reveal a considerable biodeterioration of PHBV and a pronounced influence of flax fibre reinforcement on the degradation mechanisms. Conversely, PBS exhibits minimal to no indications of degradation. Additionally, the results confirm that biotic factors are the primary determinants of the degradation processes, with no degradation observed under abiotic conditions.
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Polymer material biodegradation in the deep sea. A review
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This review examines polymer biodegradation in deep-sea environments, noting that while significant research has focused on coastal marine biodegradation, the deep sea is likely a major sink for ocean plastics and remains understudied. The author finds that deep-sea conditions are generally not conducive to biodegradation but identifies mechanisms from organic fall studies that parallel those in shallow waters, calling for expanded research in this environment.
Study of The Biodegradation of Poly (3- Hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) by Microorganisms from the Sea waters of the Atlantic Coast of Brazil
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This Brazilian study evaluated the biodegradation of poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), a bioplastic, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) in static systems using seawater from the Pernambuco coast as the degradation medium. The research monitored physical and chemical changes over time, comparing the environmental fate of a biodegradable bioplastic versus a conventional petroleum-based polymer.
Biodegradability of bioplastic blown film in a marine environment
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Researchers tested the biodegradability of bioplastic blown films made from polybutylene succinate and polylactic acid in marine environments, finding these materials degrade more readily than conventional plastics but at rates that still pose concerns for marine ecosystem impacts.
Biodegradation Studies of Polyhydroxybutyrate and Polyhydroxybutyrate-co-Polyhydroxyvalerate Films in Soil
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Researchers studied the biodegradation properties of two bioplastic polymers, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-polyhydroxyvalerate (PHBV), in soil under different moisture conditions. Both polymers degraded completely in fully saturated soil, with the study tracking changes in appearance, chemical signatures, mechanical properties, and molecular weight, supporting these materials as viable biodegradable alternatives to conventional petrochemical-derived plastics.
Biodegradability of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) and poly(ε-caprolactone) via biological carbon cycles in marine environments
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The marine biodegradability of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) biopolymers was tested through biological degradation assays, evaluating their potential as truly marine-degradable plastic alternatives. Both polymers showed evidence of marine biodegradation, though rates varied with environmental conditions, offering promise as plastics that would not persist in ocean environments.
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