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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Biodegradation of Polylactic Acid/Poly(Butylene Adipate-co-Terephtalate) Mulching Film Under Weathering Conditions
ClearInvestigating 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.
Investigating aquatic biodegradation and changes in the properties of pristine and UV-irradiated microplastics from conventional and biodegradable agricultural plastics
Researchers compared the biodegradation of conventional and biodegradable agricultural plastic mulching films in aquatic environments, testing both pristine and UV-weathered samples. The study found that while biodegradable plastics break down well under controlled composting conditions, their degradation in non-target environments like water bodies is considerably less predictable.
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.
The fate of biodegradable polyesters in the marine environment
Researchers tracked the degradation of five biodegradable plastics in simulated marine environments over nearly a year, including materials like polylactic acid and polyhydroxybutyrate. While all materials showed signs of degradation such as surface cracking and weight loss from hydrolysis, they also released polymer fragments into surrounding sand, indicating that even biodegradable plastics can generate microplastic pollution. The findings suggest that labeling a plastic as biodegradable does not guarantee it will fully break down in ocean conditions.
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.
Degradation of Polylactic Acid/Polypropylene Carbonate Films in Soil and Phosphate Buffer and Their Potential Usefulness in Agriculture and Agrochemistry
Researchers studied how blends of polylactic acid and polypropylene carbonate, two biodegradable plastics being promoted as eco-friendly alternatives, break down in soil and in laboratory conditions over time. The degradation was slow and incomplete, with the films losing weight and molecular structure gradually over 24 months. This raises concerns that even biodegradable plastics may persist in the environment long enough to fragment into microplastics before fully breaking down.
Weathering of agricultural polyethylene films in cold climate regions: which parameters influence fragmentation?
Researchers studied the natural weathering of agricultural polyethylene mulch films in cold climate regions to identify which parameters accelerate their fragmentation into microplastics. They found that a combination of environmental factors contributes to the breakdown process, which can also lead to leaching of chemical additives. The findings highlight the importance of understanding how agricultural plastics degrade in different climates to assess their contribution to soil microplastic pollution.
Insights into the abiotic fragmentation of biodegradable mulches under accelerated weathering conditions
Biodegradable plastic mulches are increasingly tilled into agricultural soils as an alternative to removal, but this study found that UV weathering breaks them down into biodegradable microplastics that adsorb aromatic compounds and heavy metals, potentially transferring these contaminants through the food web. The findings suggest that "biodegradable" does not mean risk-free, and that fragmentation products from these mulches warrant serious attention in farmland pollution assessments.
Dynamics of macroplastics and microplastics formed by biodegradable mulch film in an agricultural field
Researchers tracked the breakdown of biodegradable mulch film in agricultural fields over four years and found that while the material fragmented into smaller pieces, complete degradation did not occur. Both macro- and microplastic fragments from the biodegradable film persisted in the soil throughout the study period. The findings suggest that biodegradable mulch films, promoted as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastic, may still contribute to microplastic accumulation in farmland.
Not Only Diamonds Are Forever: Degradation of Plastic Films in a Simulated Marine Environment
Researchers found that biodegradable plastics, including polylactic acid (PLA), do not fully degrade in simulated marine environments at realistic temperatures and conditions. This challenges the assumption that biodegradable plastics are a straightforward solution to ocean plastic pollution.
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.
Photo-Aging of Biodegradable Polylactic Acid Microplastics
Researchers investigated the photo-aging of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, finding that UV exposure caused fragmentation that increased total particle numbers while decreasing average particle size. The study provides quantitative data on how biodegradable PLA plastics generate secondary microplastics through photoaging, a previously poorly characterized degradation pathway for this widely used industrial bioplastic.
Disintegration and mineralization of mulch films and leaf litter in soil
This field study tracked the physical disintegration of biodegradable mulch films in agricultural soil over time, monitoring how the films fragment and whether they fully disappear. Understanding the fragmentation and fate of agricultural plastic films in soil is important because these films are a significant source of microplastic contamination of farmland.
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.
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.
Abiotic degradation and accelerated ageing of microplastics from biodegradable and recycled materials in artificial seawater
Researchers examined the degradation behavior of microplastics from two biodegradable plastics (polylactic acid and Mater-Bi) and recycled PET under simulated seawater and photo-oxidative conditions. They identified hydrolysis as the primary degradation pathway and characterized the oligomers, degradation products, and plastic additives released into the water. The study improves understanding of how these alternative plastic materials break down in marine environments and what chemicals they release.
Preprint for investigating aquatic biodegradation of pristine and UV-irradiated microplastics from conventional and biodegradable agricultural plastics using advanced analytical techniques
Researchers investigated aquatic biodegradation of pristine and UV-irradiated microplastics derived from conventional and biodegradable agricultural plastics using advanced analytical techniques, comparing degradation pathways between weathered and unweathered plastic fragments under aquatic conditions.
Degradation Pathways of Biodegradable Films in Aquatic Ecosystems: the Role of Environmental Factors in Microplastics Formation
This review examines how biodegradable agricultural and packaging films degrade in aquatic environments, detailing how UV radiation, temperature, microbial activity, and pH interact to determine the rate of microplastic formation from supposedly eco-friendly plastic alternatives.
Biodegradability of bioplastic blown film in a marine environment
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.
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.