Biodegradability of conventional and bio-based plastics and natural fiber composites during composting, anaerobic digestion and long-term soil incubation

Gómez, Eddie F.; Michel, Frederick C.

doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2013.09.018

Cited by 237 publications

(135 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) bioplastic is biodegraded in aerobic and anaerobic engineered processes as well as natural environments; however anaerobic co-digestion of PHB for the express purpose of waste management and renewable energy has not been investigated (Abou-Zeid et al, 2004;Volova et al, 2010;Gómez and Michel, 2013;Deroiné et al, 2014). Budwill et al (1996) reported that PHB is anaerobically biodegradable in various scenarios but suggested that municipal anaerobic sewage sludge digesters were suitable PHB degrading environment to generate biomethane.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…PHB was shown to anaerobically biodegrade over 90% in 10 days at mesophilic conditions, whereas polylactic acid (PLA) only biodegraded 7% in 90 days even though it is considered to be industrially compostable under aerobic thermophilic conditions (Yagi et al, 2014). Despite lesser biodegradability, PLA is more readily available on the market today due to more efficient production at full scale (Kolstad et al, 2012;Gómez and Michel, 2013;Yagi et al, 2013Yagi et al, , 2014.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pretreatment and Anaerobic Co-digestion of Selected PHB and PLA Bioplastics

Benn

Zitomer

2018

Front. Environ. Sci.

105

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Conventional petroleum-derived plastics are recalcitrant to biodegradation and can be problematic as they accumulate in the environment. In contrast, it may be possible to add novel, biodegradable bioplastics to anaerobic digesters at municipal water resource recovery facilities along with primary sludge to produce more biomethane. In this study, thermal and chemical bioplastic pretreatments were first investigated to increase the rate and extent of anaerobic digestion. Subsequently, replicate, bench-scale anaerobic co-digesters fed synthetic primary sludge with and without PHB bioplastic were maintained for over 170 days. Two polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), one poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) and one polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic were investigated. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) assays were performed using both untreated bioplastic as well as bioplastic pretreated at elevated temperature (35-90 • C) under alkaline conditions (8

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pretreatment and Anaerobic Co-digestion of Selected PHB and PLA Bioplastics

Benn

Zitomer

2018

Front. Environ. Sci.

105

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“…Further work is also underway with increased incubation times to observe larger spectroscopic and gravimetric changes, and compare with other plastic degradation studies carried out over 6 months or longer 45,46 . When compared to either blank or E. coli treatments, PET incubation with all three lipase positive bacteria showed 1) a significant decrease in both the carbonyl and ester indexes with 2) an increase in the aliphatic index.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pseudomonasisolates degrade and form biofilms on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic

Vague

Chan

Roberts

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Bioaugmentation is a possible remediation strategy for the massive amounts of plastic waste in our oceans and landfills. For this study, soil samples were collected from petroleum polluted locations in the Houston, Texas area to isolate microorganisms capable of plastic degradation.Bacteria were propagated and screened for lipase activity, which has been associated with the bacterial degradation of some plastics to date. We identified three lipase-positive Pseudomonas species, and Bacillus cereus as part of two consortia, which we predict enhances biofilm formation and plastic degradation. Lipase-positive consortia bacteria were incubated alongside blank and E.coli controls with UV-irradiated polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), or low-density polyethylene (LDPE) as sole sources of carbon. Surface degradation of PET plastic was quantified by changes in molecular vibrations by infrared spectroscopy. The bacteria formed biofilms on PET, observed by scanning electron microscopy, and induced molecular changes on the plastic surface, indicating the initial stages of plastic degradation. We also found molecular evidence that one of the Pseudomonas isolates degrades LDPE. To date, lipase positive Pseudomonas spp. degradation of PET has not been well described, and this work highlights the potential for using consortia of common soil bacteria to degrade plastic waste.

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“…There are about 1 million tons of plastic waste generated annually in China, but only around 20% of it is recycled (He and Nie 2011). A major proportion of the used plastic materials end up as waste, which is either mainly deposited in landfills or contributes to litter on our roadsides, public spaces, and waterways (Gómez and Michel Jr 2013;Jambeck et al 2015). The strain and stress of environmental balance imposed by plastic packaging materials is a driving force to develop sustainable packaging materials (Peelman et al 2014;Scarfato et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prospects for Replacement of Some Plastics in Packaging with Lignocellulose Materials: A Brief Review

Su¹,

Yang

Liu³

et al. 2018

BioResources

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There has been increasing concern regarding environmental problems arising from the widespread use of petroleum-based plastic materials for packaging. Many efforts have been made to develop sustainable and biodegradable packaging materials to replace plastic products. The current review summarizes recent research progress in developing cellulose packaging materials to replace plastics used for cushioning and barrier packaging functions based on pulp fibers, cellulose nanofibers, and regenerated cellulose films to benefit from their renewability, sustainability and biodegradability. The cushioning packaging materials include molded pulp products and bio-based foams. Advanced cellulose films and paper can be good barriers for oxygen and carbon dioxide gases, as well as for water vapor. Several cellulose fiber-based packaging products have been commercialized in areas that used to be occupied solely by plastic products.

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Biodegradability of conventional and bio-based plastics and natural fiber composites during composting, anaerobic digestion and long-term soil incubation

Cited by 237 publications

References 37 publications

Pretreatment and Anaerobic Co-digestion of Selected PHB and PLA Bioplastics

Pretreatment and Anaerobic Co-digestion of Selected PHB and PLA Bioplastics

Pseudomonasisolates degrade and form biofilms on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic

Prospects for Replacement of Some Plastics in Packaging with Lignocellulose Materials: A Brief Review

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