Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Methodology development: evaluation of structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) blends for biodegradable mulch

Researchers developed a methodology for formulating and characterizing biodegradable PLA/PBAT mulch films as alternatives to conventional polyethylene mulch that contributes to microplastic pollution in agriculture. The proposed approach covers scalable formulation, processing, and comprehensive characterization aligned with regulatory guidelines and industry standards for biodegradable mulch performance.

2025 Polymer Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Development of mulch films from biodegradable polymer and agro-industrial waste

Biodegradable mulch films were developed from poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) incorporating soybean and peanut hull agro-industrial wastes as alternative to conventional plastic mulches. The agro-waste additives improved film hydrophobicity but increased water absorption values, with mechanical and thermal properties characterized across different formulations.

2024 Polímeros 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Degradation Characteristics of Reed-Based PBAT Mulch and Their Effects on Plant Growth and Soil Properties

Researchers prepared PBAT and PBAT/reed fibre composite mulch films and characterised their degradation behaviour and effects on soil properties and soybean growth. The PBAT/reed fibre film achieved 90.43% biodegradation in 91 days under composting conditions and 89% under field conditions, but incorporation of 5% PBAT/RF fragments into soil reduced pH by 5.1%, decreased sucrase and catalase activities, and reduced soybean leaf chlorophyll content by 7.2%, indicating growth inhibition despite the composite's faster biodegradation rate.

2025 Materials
Article Tier 2

Impact of Polylactic Acid Fibers in Cellulose Nonwoven Mulch Blends on Biodegradability and Performance—An Open Field Study

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.

2024 Polymers 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Field test on the biodegradation of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) based mulch films in soil

Researchers buried four types of supposedly biodegradable plastic mulch films — used in farming to suppress weeds — in agricultural soil for over two years and found that all four still left behind microplastic fragments. This shows that even biodegradable plastics can accumulate in soil if used repeatedly each growing season.

2020 Polymer Testing 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Sorption Behavior of Polylactic Acid/Poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephtalate) Mulching Film Toward Active Substances

Researchers examined the sorption behavior of biodegradable polylactic acid/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) mulching films toward agricultural active substances, comparing them to conventional low-density polyethylene films. The study assessed how these bio-based mulch materials interact with pesticides and other chemicals, with implications for soil contamination and microplastic alternatives in agriculture.

2025 Macromolecular Symposia
Article Tier 2

Investigating the Degradation of Biodegradable Mulch Films in Agricultural Soil: A Molecular Approach

Researchers investigated the field degradation of biodegradable mulch films composed of starch and poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate) over 16 months under Mediterranean climate conditions, using molecular methods to characterize how pristine and UV-aged films break down in agricultural soil.

2025 CINECA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Bari Aldo Moro)
Article Tier 2

Deep insights into biodegradability mechanism and growth cycle adaptability of polylactic acid/hyperbranched cellulose nanocrystal composite mulch

Researchers developed biodegradable polylactic acid mulch films reinforced with hyperbranched cellulose nanocrystals, demonstrating tunable degradation rates under soil burial, seawater, and UV aging conditions alongside enhanced mechanical strength and crop yield — offering a viable petroleum-free alternative to conventional agricultural plastic mulch.

2023 International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of aging behavior of biodegradable mulch on soil microbial community composition: An offline simulation study

Researchers conducted a 60-day outdoor aging test on four formulations of biodegradable PBAT mulch film and found that starch additions accelerated mechanical breakdown while PLA additions slowed it, with aged mulch shifting soil fungal communities toward Mortierella but producing no detectable harmful effects on soil health.

2024 Journal of Environmental Management 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Development and Characterization of Poly(butylene succinate‐co‐adipate)/Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) with Cowpea Lignocellulosic Fibers as a Filler via Injection Molding and Extrusion Film‐Casting

Researchers developed and characterized biodegradable composite films from poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) and polylactic acid, evaluating their mechanical properties, thermal stability, and compostability. The blended composites showed improved ductility compared to neat PLA and degraded fully under industrial composting conditions, supporting their use as sustainable packaging alternatives.

2024 Macromolecular Materials and Engineering 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative methodology for poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) microplastic detection in soil and compost

Researchers developed a quantitative methodology for detecting poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) microplastics in soil and compost matrices, addressing the need to monitor biodegradable mulch film fragmentation and mineralization in agricultural environments. The method enabled accurate measurement of PBAT microplastic concentrations across environmentally relevant matrices, providing a tool to assess the fate of biodegradable plastics in agroecosystems.

2024
Article Tier 2

Poly (butylene adipate terephthalate) degradation products and their influence on plant progression and soil microbial diversity

This study examined how the biodegradable plastic PBAT degrades in soil and what effects its degradation products have on Chinese cabbage growth and soil microbial diversity, finding that degradation varied with particle size and that soil microbiomes shifted as PBAT broke down. The findings matter for assessing whether "biodegradable" mulch films truly disappear benignly or leave behind microplastic fragments and microbial disruption in agricultural soils.

2023 Research Square (Research Square) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation of Polylactic Acid/Poly(Butylene Adipate-co-Terephtalate) Mulching Film Under Weathering Conditions

Researchers analyzed the degradation processes of a commercial polylactic acid/polybutylene adipate terephthalate biodegradable mulching film under outdoor weathering conditions in the South Italy Adriatic zone to assess fragmentation risks before plastic debris could reach marine environments. The study examined how weathering alters the film's physical and chemical properties and generated microplastic fragments, contributing data on the marine pollution risks of biodegradable agricultural films.

2024
Article Tier 2

The fate of post-use biodegradable PBAT-based mulch films buried in agricultural soil

Scientists tracked the breakdown of a biodegradable mulch film in farm soil over 16 months and found that while the film lost more than half its surface area, it released microplastics into the surrounding soil during the process. About 17-23% of the original film material was still recoverable from the soil after nearly 500 days. The study shows that even biodegradable plastics can be a source of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Surface Alterations on Agro-Waste Filler and their Effect on the Properties of Biodegradable Polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT)

Researchers developed biodegradable composites by melt blending polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) with rice husk filler subjected to diverse surface modification treatments including alkaline treatment, to enhance mechanical properties while maintaining biodegradability above 90%. The study assessed how surface alterations on the agro-waste filler affected the resulting composite material properties.

2024 Research Square (Research Square) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of PBAT Biodegradable Mulch Film Extract on Seed Germination and Seedlings Metabolism of Tobacco

This study investigated whether organic compounds extracted from a biodegradable mulch film made of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) affect tobacco seed germination and seedling growth. Extracts caused reduced germination rates and disrupted seedling metabolism in laboratory tests. The findings suggest that even biodegradable agricultural plastics can release compounds with phytotoxic effects.

2022 Agriculture 7 citations
Article Tier 2

In-field degradation of polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) films, microplastic formation, and impacts on soil health

A three-year field study found that biodegradable PBAT mulch films actually produced more microplastic particles in soil than conventional polyethylene films, though the biodegradable versions improved soil health and crop yields overall. The majority of microplastics from biodegradable films were very small (under 0.25 mm), which raises questions about whether these tiny fragments pose different risks than larger pieces.

2025 Environmental Research 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Functionalization of slow-release fertilizers and “passive predation microplastics” mechanism for polylactic acid composites

Researchers developed a biodegradable fertilizer film made from polylactic acid (PLA) and modified lignin that can slowly release nutrients while breaking down naturally in soil, offering an alternative to conventional plastic mulch. The study also explored how plants absorb tiny fragments of bio-based plastics, which is important for understanding whether even biodegradable alternatives still pose risks to food safety.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Unveiling the impact of soil depth on degradation of durable nanocomposite mulch-derived residue migration dynamics in plant ecosystems

Researchers studied how a self-degradable mulch film made from polylactic acid and hydrophobically modified nanocellulose behaves at different soil depths. The mulch increased soil moisture, promoted plant growth, and degraded faster than pure PLA, with degradation rate varying by soil depth. The study demonstrates that nanocomposite mulch films can reduce plastic pollution through effective biodegradation while supporting soil and plant health, though ecological risk assessments are recommended before large-scale use.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of Epoxidized Soybean Oil on Biodegradation and Mechanical Performances of Thermoplastic Starch/Poly(Butylene Adipate‐Co‐Terephthalate)

Adding epoxidized soybean oil as a compatibilizer to thermoplastic starch/PBAT blends significantly improved mechanical performance and biodegradability, with higher epoxidation degree correlating with reduced residual double bonds and increased crosslinking functionality.

2025 Journal of Applied Polymer Science 3 citations