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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Seawater degradation of PLA accelerated by water-soluble PVA
ClearBiodegradation of poly(butylene adipate terephthalate) and poly(vinyl alcohol) within aquatic pathway
Researchers traced the biodegradation of two common biodegradable plastics through simulated aquatic pathways and found that prior exposure to wastewater accelerates breakdown of PBAT in seawater, while PVA degrades similarly regardless of prior environment — with microbial community composition shifting distinctly for each plastic.
Enhancing the Biodegradability, Water Solubility, and Thermal Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol through Natural Polymer Blending: An Approach toward Sustainable Polymer Applications
Researchers blended synthetic polyvinyl alcohol with natural polymers like corn starch and cellulose derivatives to create more environmentally friendly plastic alternatives. Adding corn starch doubled the rate of biodegradation in soil, while cellulose blending boosted both water solubility and biodegradation from 10% to 100%. The study offers a practical approach to making existing plastics break down faster, potentially reducing long-term microplastic pollution.
Assessment of Toxicity and Biodegradability of Poly(vinyl alcohol)-Based Materials in Marine Water
Researchers assessed the biodegradability and toxicity of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based materials in marine water, testing both pure PVA and glycerol-containing variants. They found that PVA biodegradation under marine conditions was negligible, with only 5-8% degradation after 28 days, and that adding glycerol slightly increased both degradation and toxicity. The findings suggest that PVA-based alternatives to conventional plastics still require significant development before they can be considered truly marine-degradable.
Insights into the Characteristics, Adsorption, and Desorption Behaviors of Polylactic Acid Aged with or without Salinities
Researchers studied how salinity affects the aging process and pollutant adsorption behavior of polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics — a biodegradable plastic increasingly used as a conventional plastic substitute. Seawater aged PLA differently than freshwater, and aged particles adsorbed more contaminants than fresh ones. The study shows that even biodegradable plastics can become environmental pollutants through aging and contaminant accumulation.
Seawater‐Degradable Polymers: Seawater‐Degradable Polymers—Fighting the Marine Plastic Pollution (Adv. Sci. 1/2021)
This review examines polymers designed to degrade in seawater as a potential strategy to combat marine plastic pollution, covering material properties, degradation mechanisms, and the environmental context of marine microplastic impacts. Even seawater-degradable polymers require careful evaluation since the consequences of marine plastic pollution are still not fully understood.
Superior sequence-controlled poly(L-lactide)-based bioplastic with tunable seawater biodegradation
Scientists designed a new biodegradable plastic by combining PLA with polyethylene glycol in a controlled molecular structure that is both tough and breaks down quickly in seawater. The material achieved over 72% biodegradation in marine conditions within 28 days while remaining durable in regular freshwater, making it a promising candidate for reducing ocean plastic pollution.
Biodegradable materials based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly (lactic acid) (PLA) with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity for food packaging applications
Researchers developed biodegradable food packaging films by combining poly(vinyl alcohol) and polylactic acid with natural antioxidants and antimicrobials. The resulting films extended food shelf life and degraded in the environment unlike conventional plastic packaging. Replacing petroleum-based plastic food packaging with biodegradable alternatives could significantly reduce microplastic contamination from packaging waste.
Accelerated Degradation of Poly(lactide acid)/Poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PLA/PHB) Yarns/Fabrics by UV and O2 Exposure in South China Seawater
Researchers found that UV radiation and dissolved oxygen in South China seawater significantly accelerated the degradation of PLA/PHB bioplastic yarns and fabrics, causing fragmentation and microfiber release within months.
Degradation of supposedly biodegradable polymers in a real estuarine environment
Researchers tested the real-world degradation of supposedly biodegradable polymer bags in an estuarine environment over 180 days. The study found that bags made of PLA combined with PBAT and starch showed the most consistent degradation, while polyethylene bags with oxo-biodegradable additives and plain polyethylene showed minimal breakdown, questioning the effectiveness of some biodegradable alternatives in natural settings.
Monitoring polymer degradation under different conditions in the marine environment
Researchers simulated four marine environmental conditions over one year and found that biobased plastics like polylactic acid degrade up to five times faster in seafloor sediment than in the water column, while conventional plastics showed little degradation difference across conditions.
Synthetic Degradable Polyvinyl Alcohol Polymer and Its Blends with Starch and Cellulose—A Comprehensive Overview
This review explores polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and its blends with natural materials like starch and cellulose as biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastics. By combining these affordable natural polymers with PVA, researchers aim to create cost-effective products that break down in the environment, helping reduce the plastic waste crisis that contaminates water, soil, and threatens human health.
Generation of biodegradable microplastics from commercially available PBAT and PLA-based plastic bags in water: Impacts of UVA and water medium
Researchers tested how commercially available biodegradable plastic bags made from PBAT and PLA degrade in water under UVA light and dark conditions over 12 weeks. They found that both materials degraded faster in pure water than seawater, and UVA light significantly accelerated breakdown, but neither fully decomposed. The study confirms that biodegradable plastics generate microplastic fragments during incomplete degradation in aquatic environments.
Generation of Microplastics from Biodegradable Packaging Films Based on PLA, PBS and Their Blend in Freshwater and Seawater
Researchers studied how biodegradable plastic films made from PLA, PBS, and their blends break down in freshwater and seawater over several months. All films generated microplastic particles as they degraded, with different water environments producing different amounts and types of fragments. This study challenges the idea that biodegradable plastics are a clean solution, since they still create microplastics during breakdown in natural water systems.
Enhanced Marine Biodegradation of Polycaprolactone through Incorporation of Mucus Bubble Powder from Violet Sea Snail as Protein Fillers
Researchers developed a new biodegradable composite by incorporating mucus bubble powder from the violet sea snail into polycaprolactone, a marine-degradable plastic. They found that adding this natural protein filler significantly accelerated the biodegradation rate of the material in seawater environments. The study suggests this novel bio-derived approach could help address ocean microplastic pollution by creating plastics that break down more quickly in marine settings.
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.
Behaviour of a self-reinforced polylactic acid (SRPLA) in seawater
Researchers tested whether a biodegradable plastic made from plant-based polylactic acid (PLA) holds up in seawater and whether it sheds microplastics. After 12 months at 40°C its strength fully degraded, but short-term UV exposure did not increase microplastic release — suggesting it needs engineering improvements before it can safely replace conventional marine plastics.
Properties of reclaimed polypropylene microplastic-polylactic acid blends
This study explored whether mixing reclaimed microplastic polypropylene with biodegradable PLA plastic could reduce environmental harm while preserving useful mechanical properties. The blends were tested in seawater and buried in soil to assess biodegradation, and a 90% PP / 10% PLA blend retained the highest tensile strength after seawater immersion. Higher PLA content accelerated biodegradation but reduced thermal stability and strength. The research offers a potential strategy for making recovered microplastic materials more environmentally manageable without sacrificing too much performance.
Seawater‐Degradable Polymers—Fighting the Marine Plastic Pollution
This review explores the development of polymers specifically designed to degrade in seawater as a strategy to combat marine plastic pollution. Researchers highlight several promising materials that break down in ocean conditions, though they note these are best suited for applications where plastic loss to the sea is unavoidable rather than as a replacement for proper waste management.
Degradation of polyethylene microplastics in seawater: Insights into the environmental degradation of polymers
Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics degrade in artificial seawater and found that exposure led to surface oxidation, cracking, and fragmentation over time. The study suggests that environmental degradation of microplastics in marine settings may generate progressively smaller particles, including nanoplastics, while also releasing chemical additives into surrounding waters.
Aging behavior of biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics accelerated by UV/H2O2 processes
Researchers used UV and hydrogen peroxide to simulate environmental aging of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics, finding that PLA microplastics undergo significant surface and structural changes during weathering that alter their environmental behavior and persistence.
Bioplastics in the Sea: Rapid In-Vitro Evaluation of Degradability and Persistence at Natural Temperatures
Researchers evaluated the marine degradability of multiple bioplastic materials at natural seawater temperatures, finding that most bioplastics persist in ocean environments rather than degrading quickly, challenging assumptions that bioplastics represent a straightforward solution to marine plastic pollution.
Enhancement and investigation of biodegradability of poly (methyl methacrylate) and poly (vinyl chloride) by blending with biodegradable polymer
Researchers blended synthetic polymers poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinyl chloride) with natural biopolymers to investigate whether blending could accelerate biodegradation, using molecular-level analysis to confirm that biopolymer incorporation enhanced the biodegradability of otherwise recalcitrant synthetic plastics.
Biodegradation behavior of polyesters with various internal chemical structures and external environmental factors in real seawater
Researchers tested how different types of biodegradable polyester plastics break down in real ocean conditions off the coast of South Korea. They found that the chemical structure of each polyester, particularly its crystallinity and glass transition temperature, significantly influenced how quickly it degraded. The study provides practical guidance for designing biodegradable plastics that will actually break down effectively in marine environments.
An In Situ Experiment to Evaluate the Aging and Degradation Phenomena Induced by Marine Environment Conditions on Commercial Plastic Granules
Researchers designed two experimental setups to monitor the aging and degradation of commercial plastic granules (HDPE, PP, PLA, and PBAT) in marine conditions over three years. The first six months of results showed measurable changes in plastic properties from exposure to seawater and beach conditions. The study provides real-world data on how different plastic types degrade in marine environments, with biodegradable plastics showing faster changes than conventional polymers.