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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Screening for polymer degradation using a modified method with 14C-radiolabelled alginate
ClearScreening for polymer degradation using a modified method with 14C-radiolabelled alginate
Researchers adapted a 14C-radiolabelled alginate screening method to rapidly assess biodegradation rates and degradation products of polymers, providing a tool to support compliance assessment under the EU Commission Regulation 2023/2055 restricting intentionally added synthetic microplastics.
Performance of a modified screening method for polymer biodegradability testing
Researchers developed a faster, simpler screening test to check whether polymers — including those used in microplastic-forming products — can be broken down by microbes. The modified method produces results in 10 days instead of 28 and uses less material, making it easier to guide development of biodegradable alternatives.
Towards a comprehensive microplastic fate assessment: Integrating size analyses and abiotic degradation into regulatory testing
Researchers developed an enhanced regulatory testing framework for microplastic fate assessment that integrates particle size analysis and abiotic degradation pathways alongside biodegradability testing, addressing the limitations of current EU restriction methods that focus only on CO2 evolution during mineralization.
Towards a comprehensive microplastic fate assessment: Integrating size analyses and abiotic degradation into regulatory testing
Researchers worked to improve microplastic fate assessment under EU regulatory frameworks by integrating particle size analysis and abiotic degradation pathways into testing protocols for intentionally added microplastics, going beyond standard biodegradability measures such as CO2 evolution. The study examined how abiotic processes such as UV degradation and fragmentation produce transformation products not captured by existing mineralization-focused test methods.
Biodegradation of plastics in the pelagic environment of the coastal zone – Proposed test method under controlled laboratory conditions
This paper proposed a standardized test method for evaluating the biodegradation of bio-based plastics in the pelagic coastal zone environment, addressing the lack of suitable protocols for assessing marine biodegradability as an alternative to conventional non-degradable plastics.
Study on Rapid Detection Method for Degradation Performance of Polyolefin-Based Degradable Plastics
This study introduced the concept of bioassimilated carbon to more accurately measure how well polyolefin-based degradable plastics actually break down in natural environments, addressing limitations of existing standard test methods.
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.
A New Colorimetric Test for Accurate Determination of Plastic Biodegradation
This paper introduces a new colorimetric test designed to detect actual plastic biodegradation more directly and rapidly than conventional mineralisation-based methods, addressing a major gap in reliably assessing whether plastics break down in natural environments. Better biodegradability testing tools are essential for validating claims about "biodegradable" plastics and for tracking microplastic fate in soils and water.
New advances to assess biodegradation and toxicity of alternative environmentally friendly polymers
Researchers developed new methods to assess the biodegradation rates and ecotoxicity of alternative polymers including biobased, recycled, and biodegradable plastics, addressing a gap in risk assessment frameworks focused primarily on conventional plastics. Results showed biodegradability varied greatly by polymer type and environmental conditions, and alternative plastics still exhibited measurable toxicity during degradation.
Microplastic aging processes: Environmental relevance and analytical implications
Researchers reviewed how microplastics change physically and chemically over time in the environment — a process called 'aging' — and found that standard lab methods for detecting microplastics were mostly developed using fresh, unaged plastics, making it harder to accurately measure real-world contamination. Improved analytical methods that account for aged microplastics are needed for reliable environmental assessment.
Degradation of Biodegradable Microplastics under Artificially Controlled Aging Conditions with UV Radiation
Researchers subjected biodegradable plastics to controlled UV aging and found that they fragmented into microplastics faster than conventional plastics under simulated outdoor conditions. Biodegradable plastics are promoted as an eco-friendly alternative, but this study shows they may actually create microplastic pollution more rapidly in real-world environments. The findings raise important questions about whether biodegradable plastics are a genuine solution to plastic pollution.
The effect of biodegradable plastics on microplastic accumulation and exposure
Researchers developed a comprehensive method to quantify microplastic accumulation from biodegradable polymers in natural environments, examining whether biodegradable alternatives actually reduce plastic loads compared to conventional polymers under real-world outdoor conditions.
Review of the artificially-accelerated aging technology and ecological risk of microplastics
This review examines laboratory methods used to artificially age microplastics to simulate long-term environmental weathering, including UV light, chemical oxidation, heat, and radiation treatments. Researchers found that aging generally increases the environmental risks of microplastics by making them easier for organisms to ingest, enhancing their ability to interact with other pollutants, and triggering the release of chemical additives. The study calls for more realistic aging methods that better simulate the complex conditions microplastics face in natural environments.
New approach to produce accelerated aged microplastics standard
Researchers developed a new approach to produce accelerated aged microplastic standard materials by subjecting polymer particles to simulated weathering conditions, generating reference materials that more accurately reflect the degraded chemical and physical properties of microplastics found in real environmental samples.
Laboratory Test Methods to Determine the Degradation of Plastics in Marine Environmental Conditions
This paper reviewed laboratory test methods for determining how plastics degrade in marine environments, evaluating the relevance of existing tests for predicting real-world biodegradation rates and calling for more standardized and environmentally realistic protocols.
Biodegradability standards for carrier bags and plastic films in aquatic environments: a critical review
Researchers critically reviewed existing biodegradability standards for carrier bags and plastic films in aquatic environments and found that current testing protocols do not adequately reflect real-world marine or freshwater conditions. The study suggests that labeling plastics as "biodegradable" may be misleading, since degradation rates vary dramatically depending on temperature, oxygen levels, and microbial communities present in natural water bodies.
Research on a New Green and Low Carbon Degradation Test Scheme
Researchers compared compost and vermiculite inoculant methods for testing biodegradable plastic degradation according to GB/T 19277.1, finding that the vermiculite scheme offered more stable and reproducible results, and proposing an optimized vermiculite culture solution formula to improve detection efficiency for degradable plastics.
Synthesis of Micro 14 C‐Labeled Polylactide for Environmental Assessment Analysis
Researchers developed the first synthesis of 14C-radiolabelled polylactide (PLA) using ring-opening polymerisation of labelled lactide derived from a biocompatible precursor, enabling radiotracking of PLA degradation and microplastic formation in environmental matrices. The method addresses the inadequacy of conventional analytical techniques for quantifying PLA breakdown in complex environments, providing a tool for assessing the environmental fate of this widely used biodegradable polymer.
Novel insight into the in-situ study of biodegradable microplastics in soil aggregates
An in-situ study of biodegradable microplastic degradation under real environmental conditions revealed insights into how quickly these materials actually break down compared to lab predictions. The findings show that biodegradation rates in nature often differ significantly from those measured in controlled experiments.
Developing environmentally relevant test materials for microplastic research through UV-induced photoaging
Researchers used UV irradiation to create photoaged microplastics from multiple polymer types as environmentally relevant test materials for ecotoxicology research, characterizing how aging changes surface chemistry, particle size distribution, and potential biological effects.
Environmental Degradation of Microplastics: How to Measure Fragmentation Rates to Secondary Micro- and Nanoplastic Fragments and Dissociation into Dissolved Organics
Researchers developed an adapted protocol for measuring UV-driven fragmentation of microplastics into nano-sized fragments and dissolved organics, providing a standardized method to better understand microplastic degradation rates in the environment.
pH-Stat Titration: A Rapid Assay for Enzymatic Degradability of Bio-Based Polymers
Researchers developed a rapid pH-based test for measuring how quickly enzymes can degrade different biodegradable polymers, enabling faster comparison of bioplastic degradability. Developing reliably biodegradable plastics is key to preventing the accumulation of microplastics from packaging and consumer products.
New approach to produce accelerated aged microplastics standard
Researchers developed a new approach to produce accelerated-aged microplastic reference standards that more closely resemble environmentally weathered particles, accounting for the range of polymer types, shapes, sizes, and degradation conditions that determine real-world microplastic properties.
An Empirical Model for Predicting Biodegradation Profiles of Glycopolymers
Researchers developed a mathematical model to predict how glycopolymers — a type of biodegradable plastic — degrade over time under different conditions. Reliable biodegradation models help evaluate whether alternative plastics truly break down quickly enough to avoid contributing to long-term microplastic pollution.