Biodegradation Study of Food Packaging Materials: Assessment of the Impact of the Use of Different Biopolymers and Soil Characteristics

Abstract

In this article, the relationship between the properties of different membranes (agar, chitosan, and agar + chitosan) and biodegradability in natural and sterilized soil was investigated. The membranes under investigation exhibited variations in the biodegradation process, a phenomenon closely linked to both the soil microbiota composition and their water affinity. Higher solubility in water and greater swelling tendencies correlated with shorter initiation times for the biodegradation process in soil. Overall, all tested membranes began biodegradation within 14 days, as assessed through thickness and morphological analysis parameters, demonstrating a superior degradation rate compared to low-density polyethylene films.