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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Changes in the Thermal and Structural Properties of Polylactide and Its Composites During a Long-Term Degradation Process
ClearDo poly(lactic acid) microplastics instigate a threat? A perception for their dynamic towards environmental pollution and toxicity
This review examines whether poly(lactic acid), a popular biodegradable plastic marketed as an eco-friendly alternative, actually poses environmental risks as it breaks down into microplastics. Researchers found that PLA only degrades fully under specific industrial composting conditions with high temperatures and moisture, and may persist much longer in natural environments. The study calls for deeper investigation into the environmental fate and potential toxicity of PLA microplastics as their use continues to grow.
Technical note: the influence of controlled thermophilic composting of PLA bio-composites on bacterial community
This technical note examined how controlled thermophilic composting conditions affect polylactic acid (PLA) bio-cutlery, measuring mass loss, molecular weight changes, and physical fragmentation over the composting period. PLA degraded substantially under industrial composting conditions but incomplete degradation left residual fragments, raising concerns about microplastic formation in finished compost.
3D-printed polylactic acid biopolymer and textile fibers: comparing the degradation process
3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) objects and PLA textile fibers were compared in their degradation behavior under composting and environmental conditions. Both materials degraded over time but at different rates depending on their physical form and surface area. The study provides insights into how PLA-based products break down and whether they produce persistent microplastic residues.
Degradation of polylactide microplastics in the marine environment under low temperature and in fine-grained sediments - a laboratory scale evaluation
Researchers tested whether polylactide (PLA), a plant-based plastic marketed as compostable, actually breaks down in cold marine environments, finding it barely degraded in cold seawater and not at all in oxygen-deprived deep sediments — meaning improperly discarded PLA can persist in the ocean and contribute to nanoplastic pollution just like conventional plastics.
Aging Process of Biocomposites with the PLA Matrix Modified with Different Types of Cellulose
Researchers prepared polylactic acid composites with three different cellulose-based fillers and studied how they age under UV light exposure. The study found that the type of cellulose additive plays a crucial role in how well the material resists UV degradation, with some forms improving both mechanical properties and degradation timing. These findings support the potential of biodegradable polymer composites as alternatives to conventional plastics that generate persistent microplastic waste.
State of the art on biodegradability of bio-based plastics containing polylactic acid
This review examines whether bio-based plastics made from polylactic acid (PLA) actually break down in the environment as intended. While certain microorganisms can degrade PLA, the process is slow and depends heavily on conditions like temperature and moisture. The findings matter because if bio-based plastics do not fully break down, they can still fragment into microplastics, posing many of the same environmental and health risks as conventional plastics.
Chemical-Physical Characterization of Bio-Based Biodegradable Plastics in View of Identifying Suitable Recycling/Recovery Strategies and Numerical Modeling of PLA Pyrolysis
Researchers characterized several bio-based and biodegradable polymer alternatives to conventional plastics using chemical-physical methods, assessing their suitability for industrial composting and identifying challenges in managing these bioplastics in the existing waste stream.
Polylactic acid synthesis, biodegradability, conversion to microplastics and toxicity: a review
Researchers reviewed polylactic acid (PLA), a popular plant-based "biodegradable" plastic used in packaging and agriculture, finding that while it breaks down inside the body, it does not fully degrade under natural outdoor or aquatic conditions — and in fact fragments into microplastics faster than conventional petroleum-based plastics. This challenges the assumption that bioplastics are a straightforward environmental solution.
Microbial Degradation of Polylactic Acid Bioplastic
This review covers how microorganisms degrade polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic under different environmental conditions. Understanding PLA biodegradation is important for assessing whether PLA products actually break down as intended in real-world environments rather than persisting as microplastics.
Fate and dynamics of microplastics in the municipal waste composting process
Researchers tracked microplastic abundance and polymer composition across five consecutive composting stages of municipal waste at the Galuga landfill in Indonesia, finding stage-specific changes including process-based reduction and fragmentation dynamics that highlight both the capacity and limitations of composting for mitigating microplastic contamination.
Transformation of Polylactic Acid (PLA) Microparticles in Soil and their Effects on Soil Properties: A Review
This review examined how polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics transform in soil over time and affect soil physical, chemical, and biological properties including pH, organic matter, nutrient cycling, and microbial communities, highlighting the complexities of PLA as a supposedly biodegradable agricultural plastic.
Abiotic Degradation and Composting Behavior of 3D-Printed PLA and PLA/Wood Biocomposites
Researchers investigated the abiotic degradation and composting behavior of 3D-printed polylactic acid and PLA/wood biocomposites, motivated by the growing use of 3D printing technology and the polymeric waste it generates. They assessed how these materials break down under environmental and composting conditions, with implications for managing plastic residues from additive manufacturing.
Environmental Degradation of Plastic Composites with Natural Fillers—A Review
Researchers examined the environmental degradation of polymer composites containing natural fillers, finding that exposure to outdoor conditions accelerates biodegradation of natural components and alters the mechanical properties of the composite material. The degradation process can generate microplastic fragments as the matrix breaks down.
Investigation of the Hydrolytic Degradation Kinetics of 3D-Printed PLA Structures under a Thermally Accelerated Regime
Researchers investigated the hydrolytic degradation kinetics of 3D-printed PLA structures under thermally accelerated conditions, finding that print orientation and layer thickness influence degradation rate and that PLA retains structural integrity longer than expected under moderate temperature and humidity.
Enhanced Degradability, Mechanical Properties, and Flame Retardation of Poly(Lactic Acid) Composite with New Zealand Jade (Pounamu) Particles
Not directly relevant to microplastics — this paper investigates adding New Zealand jade particles to polylactic acid (PLA) to improve mechanical strength, flame resistance, and degradation rate of a biodegradable plastic composite.
A theoretical description of polylactic acid biodegradation in composting processes through mathematical modeling
Researchers developed a mathematical model to predict polylactic acid (PLA) biodegradation during composting, finding that complete biodegradation theoretically occurs over time and that a carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 32.5 achieves 90% degradation in approximately 150 days. This is relevant to microplastic research as it provides a modeling framework for optimizing the composting conditions needed to fully biodegrade PLA and prevent it from fragmenting into persistent microplastic particles.
Fate of polylactic acid microplastics during anaerobic digestion of kitchen waste: Insights on property changes, released dissolved organic matters, and biofilm formation
Polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics were tracked through the anaerobic digestion of kitchen waste, revealing that PLA particles underwent surface changes and released dissolved organic matter but were not fully degraded during the process. The study shows that even supposedly biodegradable plastics can persist and alter biofilm formation in anaerobic digestion systems.
Release of microplastics from a bio-based composite after ultraviolet irradiation
Researchers examined the release of microplastic particles from a bio-based polylactic acid (PLA) composite material following ultraviolet irradiation in laboratory conditions, quantifying microplastic formation through observation, identification, and enumeration of released particles. The study aimed to assess whether bio-based polymers marketed as more sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics like polypropylene still generate microplastic pollution during UV-driven environmental degradation.
Microstructure and performance evolution of poly (l-lactic acid) during physical aging: Determinable role of molding method on β-relaxation
Researchers investigated how the manufacturing method of poly(L-lactic acid) — a biodegradable plastic relevant to microplastic pollution reduction — affects its mechanical aging behavior, finding that quenching versus cold-pressing creates different molecular network structures that determine how quickly the material becomes brittle over time.
The Polymer-Plastisphere-Function Nexus Links to Divergent Biodegradation of Microplastics During Composting.
Researchers found a fundamental dichotomy in microplastic biodegradation during thermophilic composting, where biodegradable polymers (PLA, PBS, PBAT) underwent rapid degradation driven by selective microbial community assembly shaped by polymer chemistry, while conventional plastics resisted breakdown despite similar composting conditions.
A Comparative Review on Biodegradation of Poly(Lactic Acid) in Soil, Compost, Water, and Wastewater Environments: Incorporating Mathematical Modeling Perspectives
This review compared how polylactic acid, a popular biodegradable plastic alternative, breaks down across different environments including soil, compost, water, and wastewater. Researchers found that PLA degrades fastest in compost, followed by soil, wastewater, and open water, with different mechanisms dominating in each setting. The study provides a comprehensive picture of PLA's real-world degradation behavior, which is important for understanding whether these materials truly offer environmental benefits over conventional plastics.
Changes in Wood Plastic Composite Properties After Natural Weathering and Potential Microplastic Formation
Researchers studied how wood-plastic composite materials break down during two years of outdoor weathering in Latvia. They found that the composites developed surface cracks and chemical changes relatively quickly, with exposed wood particles suggesting the release of microplastic fragments. The findings challenge the perception of wood-plastic composites as environmentally friendly alternatives, since they may contribute to microplastic pollution over time.
Decomposition Behavior of Stereocomplex PLA Melt-Blown Fine Fiber Mats in Water and in Compost
Researchers examined the decomposition behavior of stereocomplex polylactic acid (PLA) melt-blown fine fiber mats when exposed to both water and compost environments to assess their biodegradability. The study characterized how the stereocomplex PLA structure influences degradation rates and mechanisms under aquatic versus composting conditions, relevant to understanding the environmental fate of this biodegradable polymer in different disposal pathways.
Review of the Synthesis and Degradation Mechanisms of Some Biodegradable Polymers in Natural Environments
This review examined how biodegradable polymers like PLA, starch-based plastics, and plant fiber composites break down in natural environments. Researchers found that degradation is primarily driven by microorganisms that produce specialized enzymes to break polymer chains into smaller pieces for digestion. The study highlights that factors such as temperature, humidity, polymer structure, and the specific enzymes involved all significantly influence how quickly these materials decompose.