Title:
Enhancing Anaerobic Biodegradability of High-purity PLA and PHA Bioplastics Under Mesophilic Conditions through Mechanical Pre-treatment
Author(s):
Tolis, R.-K., Adamopoulou, V., Kornaros, M.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
In recent years, biodegradable plastics have been of interest to the scientific community, as a viable alternative to fossil-based plastics. In this study, biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests were performed to evaluate the biodegradability of high-purity polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics via anaerobic digestion under mesophilic conditions (37 °C). In the context of PLA biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests, methane productivity increased from a range of 14.6.±.1.9 to 26.7.±.3.0.mL CH4/g VS (pellets, over 93 days) to 49.5.±.4.3.mL CH4/g VS (powder, over 45 days). PHA BMP assays demonstrated a marked increase in biodegradability, with methane production ranging from 441.0.±.18.8 to 549.9.±.9.8.mL CH4/g VS, and digestion periods ranging between 17 days (powder) and 80 days (pellets). PHA bioplastics demonstrated high biodegradability, with the exception of the sample PHI 002, which exhibited the lowest methane production. A physicochemical characterization of bioplastics was performed before and after anaerobic digestion, thereby providing insights into the structural properties and composition of the tested samples. This study highlights mechanical pre-treatment of bioplastics as a promising pre-treatment step to optimize their biodegradation under mesophilic anaerobic digestion conditions and optimal methane production, providing useful information for the sustainable management of bioplastic waste.
Keywords:
anaerobic digestion, biodegradability, biochemical methane potential, bioplastic
Topic:
Biomass Conversion for Bioenergy
Subtopic:
Anaerobic digestion for biogas and biomethane production
Event:
33rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
4CV.5.43
Pages:
843 - 848
ISBN:
978-88-89407-25-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/33rdEUBCE2025-4CV.5.43
Price:
FREE
