End-of-life biodegradation? how to assess the composting of polyesters in the lab and the field

Rakine Mouhoubi; Merel Lasschuijt; Salma Ramon Carrasco; Hubert Gojzewski; Frederik R Wurm

doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2022.09.025

End-of-life biodegradation? how to assess the composting of polyesters in the lab and the field

Waste Manag. 2022 Dec:154:36-48. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.09.025. Epub 2022 Oct 6.

Authors

Rakine Mouhoubi¹, Merel Lasschuijt¹, Salma Ramon Carrasco¹, Hubert Gojzewski¹, Frederik R Wurm²

Affiliations

¹ Sustainable Polymer Chemistry Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiteit Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, the Netherlands.
² Sustainable Polymer Chemistry Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiteit Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, the Netherlands. Electronic address: f.r.wurm@utwente.nl.

PMID: 36209717
DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.09.025

Abstract

The aerobic composting of biodegradable plastics can be a promising solution to the growing issue of waste accumulation. Therefore, this article offers a review of papers investigating the biodegradability of polyesters (PLA, PHB, PBS and PCL) in home- and industrial composting. Not only the thermal and biodegradation properties are discussed, but also a comparison is made between the different polyesters under the same composting conditions. From this review, it becomes clear that composting shows promise for polyester waste management. However, although several methods for assessing the composting properties of polyester have been developed, the fact that they rarely follow the same standards does not allow for a comparative analysis that would clearly define composting as the most viable solution.

Keywords: Biodegradation; Bioplastic; Compost; Polyester; Polylactide; Polymer.

Publication types

Review