Biodegradable Material Formulated With Oat Hulls in the Composting Process of Household Organic Waste and Tree Pruning

Abstract

With attractive research and development of new biodegradable polymers and their packaging applications, there is a need to address their environmental performance. This study aimed to compare the compostability of biodegradable materials (BM) produced with cassava starch, glycerol, poly (lactic) acid, with and without oat hulls to compost organic waste and also to evaluate if the BM influenced the compost process and its final product. The composting was carried out in 100 L reactors, 30 L of which were occupied with household organic waste and 66 L with tree pruning. The process was monitored for 60 days using the following parameters: temperature, C/N ratio, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, pH, electrical conductivity, series of solids, humidity, and reduction in mass and volume. At the end of the experiment, the degradation of the BM was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In the SEM images, cracks, voids, and irregular surfaces were observed, which did not exist in the BM before composting. The degradation of BM occurred, and their presence did not interfere in the composting process or the final compost's quality.