Evaluating the Ready Biodegradability of Biodegradable Plastics

Evaluating the Ready Biodegradability of Biodegradable Plastics

Reducing the environmental burden and assessing the safety of plastics are huge global challenges. However, standard test data on the ready biodegradability of plastics are limited. We evaluated the ready biodegradability of 8 biodegradable plastics using Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and D...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental toxicology and chemistry Vol. 40; no. 9; pp. 2443 - 2449
Main Authors: Nabeoka, Ryosuke, Suzuki, Hisako, Akasaka, Yuya, Ando, Nanami, Yoshida, Tomohiko
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-09-2021
Subjects:
Bacteria - metabolism
Biodegradability
Biodegradable Plastics
Biodegradation
Biodegradation, Environmental
Bioplastics
Cellulose
Cellulosic resins
Criteria
Evaluation
Hydroxyvaleric acid
Inoculum
OECD test guideline 301F
Plastic
Plastics
Polyamide resins
Polyamides
Polycaprolactone
Polyesters - metabolism
Polyhydroxybutyrate
Polymer
Prolongation
Reference materials
Succinic Acid
Biodegradation
Polymer
Plastic
OECD test guideline 301F
Prolongation
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Summary:Reducing the environmental burden and assessing the safety of plastics are huge global challenges. However, standard test data on the ready biodegradability of plastics are limited. We evaluated the ready biodegradability of 8 biodegradable plastics using Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) test guideline 301F with nonspecific bacteria and examined the effects of prolonging the test duration to a maximum of 90 d. Cellulose used as a potential reference material for plastics was not comparable to the reference material of OECD test guideline 301, but it may be improved by using a test concentration lower than the typical test concentration (100 mg/L). Of the 8 plastics examined, polyamide 4, poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate), polycaprolactone, and poly(butylene succinate adipate; PBSA) were biodegraded by >60% by day 28 and considered to show ready biodegradability. Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate; PHB), poly(3‐hydroxybutyric acid‐co‐3‐hydroxyvaleric acid; PHBV), and poly(butylene succinate; PBS) were biodegraded but did not fulfill the ready biodegradability criteria. Because the typical test concentration is considered to have negative effects on biodegradation and calculation of biodegradation percentage, using a lower concentration may result in PHB, PHBV, and PBS fulfilling the ready biodegradability criteria. Poly(d,l‐lactide; PLA) was not biodegraded. The biodegradation of PBS and PBSA was noted to vary depending on the used inoculum and/or particle size. For the 7 plastics except PLA, the percentage biodegradation on day 60 was larger than that on day 28, indicating that a longer test period could be useful for evaluating the environmental persistence of plastics. In tests in which the plastics were not biodegraded by day 60, no marked biodegradation was observed by day 90. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2443–2449. © 2021 SETAC
ISSN:0730-7268
1552-8618
DOI:10.1002/etc.5116