Influence of weather conditions and soil properties on degradation of biodegradable plastics in soil

Changes in molecular structure of biodegradable plastics during degradation in soils estimated by FT-IR and NMR

“…PHB I V was a microbial polymer, and PCL, PBS, PBSA, and PLA were synthetic ones. Some of the chemical properties as well as the chemical structure of the respective polymers were reported previously (Hoshino et al 2001). All the test specimens were in the form of a thin film (200 mm long and 250 mm wide with 0.01 mm thickness) that had a large area per weight in order to accelerate the degradability.…”

“…and poly-lactide (PLA) , were the same as those used in the field experiment conducted by the Biodegradable Plastics Society, Japan (BPS (Japan)) from 1995 to 1996 (Biodegradable Plastics Society, Japan 1998). All of them were degraded in soils, and the degradation was faster, in the following order: PBSA = PHB / V = PCL > PBS> PLA (Hoshino et al 2001). Hoshino et al (2001) also observed relations between soil and climatic conditions, and their biodegradation.…”

“…All of them were degraded in soils, and the degradation was faster, in the following order: PBSA = PHB / V = PCL > PBS> PLA (Hoshino et al 2001). Hoshino et al (2001) also observed relations between soil and climatic conditions, and their biodegradation. Field research did not aim at elucidating the chemical transformation of biodegradable plastics.…”

Degradation of an acylated starch-plastic mulch film in soil and impact on soil microflora

“…In several published studies one or all of the weight loss, loss of tensile strength, and percentage loss of elongation parameters has been used to quantify the degradability of starch-based biodegradable plastics (Otey et al 1977;Arevalo-Nino et al 1996;Imam et al 1999). In other studies, the degradability of biodegradable plastics in soils with different physicochemical properties has been compared in the laboratory (Fernando et al 2002), field (Hoshino et al 2001), and in aquatic environments (Imam and Gould 1990;Imam et al 1992;Arevalo-Nino et al 1996). In several studies, the degradation of biodegradable plastics by soil microorganisms has been demonstrated in culture media, land fills, and in compost environments (Matavulj and Molitoris 1992;Cacciari et al 1993;Johnson et al 1993).…”

Usefulness of Soil p-Nitrophenyl Acetate Esterase Activity as a Tool to Monitor Biodegradation of Polybutylene Succinate (PBS) in Cultivated Soil

“…9,10 However, insufficient information was obtained about the degradation in soil of PBS used in this study under trial product. Furthermore, we consider that participation of soil enzymes related to the degradation of PBS in soil is indispensable.…”