(Bio)degradation of biopolymer and biocomposite in deep-sea environments

In order to reduce the contamination of marine ecosystems by plastic materials, the scientific community is engaged in the development of biodegradable substitutes for conventional plastics. While certain candidates have been successfully tested in coastal marine environments, the degradation process in deep-sea environments remains poorly understood. This study examined the degradation of two industrial biopolyesters, a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and a polybutylene-succinate (PBS), in two deep marine environments of the Middle and Eastern Atlantic, at depths of 780 and 1740 m, as well as under laboratory conditions under hydrostatic pressure and without micro-organisms. The findings reveal a considerable biodeterioration of PHBV and a pronounced influence of flax fibre reinforcement on the degradation mechanisms. Conversely, PBS exhibits minimal to no indications of degradation. Additionally, the results confirm that biotic factors are the primary determinants of the degradation processes, with no degradation observed under abiotic conditions.