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Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
Published on: May 10, 2013
Anaerobic biodegradation of disposable PLA-based products: Assessing the correlation with physical, chemical and
Maria Paola Bracciale1, Giorgia De Gioannis2, Marica Falzarano3
1DICMA Department, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Roma, Italy.
Abstract:
In the present study commercial Polylactic Acid-based disposable cups and plates were selected for lab scale anaerobic degradability tests. The experiments were carried out under thermophilic conditions at different inoculum to substrate ratios and test material sizes, and the specific biogas production and associated kinetics were evaluated. Maximum biogas production was comparable for almost all the experimental runs (1620 and 1830 NmL/gTOCPLA) and a biodegradation degree in the range 86-100% was attained. Moreover, physical, chemical and microscopical analyses were used to characterize the tested materials before and after the degradation. The products composition was assessed and the presence of some additives (mainly Ca-based) was detected. Potential correlations among the process parameters and product composition were derived and a delay in process kinetics with increasing amount of additives embedded in the polymeric matrix was observed, confirming the relevant influence of the chemical blend on the biodegradation process.
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