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20 resultsShowing papers similar to Fate of a biobased polymer via high-solid anaerobic co-digestion with food waste and following aerobic treatment: Insights on changes of polymer physicochemical properties and the role of microbial and fungal communities
ClearBiopolymers modulate microbial communities in municipal organic waste digestion
Researchers investigated how biopolymers (bio-based plastics) affect microbial communities and process outcomes when co-treated with municipal organic waste in anaerobic digestion and composting systems. They found that biopolymers can alter microbial community structure, raising questions about their persistence and biodegradability in waste treatment.
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.
Anaerobic Degradation of Aromatic and Aliphatic Biodegradable Plastics: Potential Mechanisms and Pathways.
This study examined how biodegradable plastics — PBAT and PLA — break down under anaerobic conditions in digestion systems, finding that microbial communities degrade them through distinct biochemical pathways. Understanding how biodegradable plastics decompose in real-world conditions like landfills and wastewater treatment is important for evaluating whether they truly degrade safely.
Can anaerobic digestion be a suitable end-of-life scenario for biodegradable plastics? A critical review of the current situation, hurdles, and challenges
Researchers reviewed the feasibility of anaerobic digestion (AD) as an end-of-life treatment for biodegradable plastics, identifying process parameters, microbial communities, and pretreatment strategies that influence degradation rates and arguing that AD deserves more research attention alongside industrial composting.
Investigating the Fate of Bio-based Plastics in Anaerobic Digestion
This study tested the breakdown of three types of bio-based food packaging plastics in anaerobic digesters over 26 weeks, assessing how well they degrade under conditions similar to industrial composting. Understanding whether bio-based plastics truly break down in real waste treatment settings is critical to evaluating their environmental claims.
Incomplete degradation of aromatic–aliphatic copolymer leads to proliferation of microplastics and antibiotic resistance genes
This study found that incomplete composting of biodegradable aromatic-aliphatic copolymer plastics releases microplastic fragments and alters microbial community composition in compost, raising questions about whether biodegradable plastics are adequately treated in standard composting conditions.
Impact of the thermo-alkaline pretreatment on the anaerobic digestion of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blended plastics
Researchers tested whether a heat-and-alkali pretreatment could improve the breakdown of biodegradable plastics PBAT and PLA through anaerobic digestion. They found that pretreatment significantly improved methane production from PLA-containing blends but had limited effect on PBAT alone, which remained resistant to digestion. The results suggest that even plastics labeled as biodegradable may not break down easily in real-world composting and waste treatment systems.
Appraising co-composting efficiency of biodegradable plastic bags and food wastes: Assessment microplastics morphology, greenhouse gas emissions, and changes in microbial community
Researchers tested composting biodegradable plastic bags with food waste and found that while the bags broke down faster than regular plastic, the process still produced microplastic fragments and affected greenhouse gas emissions. The type of additives in the biodegradable bags influenced both the composting process and the microbial communities involved. This study raises important questions about whether "biodegradable" plastics truly solve the microplastic problem or simply create smaller plastic particles during decomposition.
Composting of starch-based bioplastic bags: small scale test of degradation and size reduction trend
Small-scale composting experiments showed that starch-based bioplastic bags degraded physically and chemically over time, but the pace and completeness depended on conditions. The study addresses concerns that bioplastic bags used in food waste collection may not fully break down in composting facilities, potentially leaving plastic residue in compost.
Links among Microbial Communities, Soil Properties and Functions: Are Fungi the Sole Players in Decomposition of Bio-Based and Biodegradable Plastic?
Researchers studied the decomposition of biodegradable PBSA plastic in soil with and without nitrogen fertilizer, finding that both bacteria and fungi participated in degradation and that fertilizer addition altered the microbial community structure during decomposition. The results show that soil nutrient status influences how quickly and through which microbial pathways biodegradable plastics are broken down.
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.
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.
Two Birds with One Stone: Bioplastics and Food Waste Anaerobic Co-Digestion
Researchers investigated anaerobic co-digestion of bioplastics with food waste, finding that certain bioplastics can be simultaneously degraded while boosting biogas yields, supporting circular economy goals by turning both waste streams into renewable energy.
Numerical framework for anaerobic digestion and/or composting of bioplastics and organic waste performance evaluation under real-like large scale operating conditions
Researchers used computer modeling to simulate how well certified biodegradable plastics — including PLA cups and starch-based bags — actually break down in real anaerobic digestion and composting facilities, finding that industrial composting alone only degrades 42–44% of PLA in 28 days. The study warns that current waste infrastructure may not be sufficient to handle the growing volumes of bioplastics, potentially leading to microplastic-like contamination of compost and soil.
Biodegradation Assessment of Bioplastic Carrier Bags Under Industrial-Scale Composting Conditions
Researchers tested the biodegradation of bioplastic carrier bags made primarily from PBAT polymer under real-world industrial composting conditions using 50 tons of material. They found that 95% of the bags disintegrated by the twelfth week, though ecotoxicity tests showed some variability in how the resulting compost affected plant germination. The study provides practical, large-scale evidence for how bioplastic bags perform in actual composting facilities rather than just laboratory settings.
Biodegradation of plastic wastes under semi-aerobic condition with active methane oxidation activities and nutrient supply
Researchers tested biodegradation of plastic wastes under semi-aerobic landfill conditions, finding that polymer type and landfill conditions strongly influenced degradation rates and the generation of microplastic fragments. The study contributes to understanding how managed disposal sites affect long-term plastic persistence.
Biorefining of Thermoplastic Starch via Depolymerization and Methane Arrested Anaerobic Digestion
This study explored whether biodegradable thermoplastic starch packaging could be broken down into useful chemicals through a combination of heat treatment and anaerobic digestion. Higher temperatures accelerated breakdown but also produced microplastics, as the material contains PBAT and PLA plastic co-polymers. The work highlights a tension in biodegradable plastic design: materials marketed as eco-friendly can still generate microplastic fragments and resist full biological conversion without specialized industrial processing.
Fate and effect of Polyamide-6 microplastics in mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion
This study examined the fate and impact of polyamide-6 microplastics during mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion, finding that digestion temperature affects polymer degradation rates and that microplastics influence methane production and microbial communities.
Fragmentation and Mineralization of a Compostable Aromatic–Aliphatic Polyester during Industrial Composting
Researchers tracked the fragmentation and biodegradation of a compostable aromatic-aliphatic polyester spiked into compost under industrial composting conditions, finding that while disintegration occurred as expected, microplastic-sized fragments with incomplete mineralization raised concerns about residual polymer persistence.
Degradation of Film and Rigid Bioplastics During the Thermophilic Phase and the Maturation Phase of Simulated Composting
Researchers tested how well commercially certified compostable bioplastics (starch-based, PBAT, and PLA) actually degrade under realistic industrial composting conditions, finding that PLA degradation was highly sensitive to both plastic thickness and the duration of the high-temperature composting phase. The results suggest that current industrial composting timelines may be insufficient to fully break down certified compostable plastics, raising questions about real-world end-of-life claims.