Abstract
The biodegradabilities of various plastics by anaerobic digested sludge were measured and compared with the biodegradabilities under simulated landfill conditions. Bacterial poly(3-hydroxy-butyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB/HV; 92/8, w/w), a natural aliphatic polyester, degraded nearly to completion within 20 days of cultivation by anaerobic digested sludge, while synthetic aliphatic polyesters such as poly-lactic acid, poly(butylene succinate), and poly (butylene succinate-co-ethylene succinate) did not degrade at all in 100 days. Cellophane, which was used as a control material, exhibited a similar degradation behavior to PHB/HV. Under simulated landfill conditions, PHB/HV degraded quite well within 6 months. Synthetic aliphatic polyesters also showed significant weight losses through 1 year of cultivation. The acidic environment inside simulators generated by the degradation of biodegradable food wastes which comprised 34 % of municipal solid waste seems to cause the weight loss of synthetic aliphatic polyesters.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ASTM D5210-91 (1991)Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 08.03, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, PA.
V. T. Breslin (1993)J. Environ. Polym. Degrad. 1, 127–141.
S. P. McCarthy, M. Gada, G. P. Smith, V. Tolland, B. Press, D. Eberiel, C. Bruell, and R. A. Gross (1992)ANTEC’92, pp. 816-818.
F. G. Pohland, W. H. Cross, and L. W. King (1993)Wat. Sci. Tech. 27, 209–223.
M. A. Barlaz, D. M. Schaefer, and R. K. Ham (1989)Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 55, 50–54.
M. A. Barlaz, D. M. Schaefer, and R. K. Ham (1989)Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 55, 55–65.
M. A. Barlaz, D. M. Schaefer, and R. K. Ham (1989)Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 20/21, 181–201.
L. De Baere, B. De Wilde, and R. Tillinger (1994) in Y. Doi and K. Fukuda (eds.),Biodegradable Plastics and Polymers, Proceedings of the Third International Scientific Workshop on Biodegradable Plastics and Polymer, Osaka, Japan, Nov. 9–11, 1993, pp. 323-330.
K. Ziegahn (1996) personal communication.
C. A. Pettigrew (1996)ASTM Stand. News Sept., 32–35.
Ministry of Environment (1992)Solid Waste Management, Department of Solid Wastes Management, Ministry of Environment, Korea.
S. H. Kim and Y. H. Kim (1994) in Y. Doi and K. Fukuda (eds.),Biodegradable Plastics and Polymers, Proceedings of the Third International Scientific Workshop on Biodegradable Plastics and Polymer, Osaka Japan, Nov. 9–11, 1993, pp. 464=n469.
P. K. Shin, M. H. Kim, J. M. Kim, and B. H. Kim (1996)Korean J. Chem. Eng. 34, 17–22.
K. Makino, H. Ohshima, and T. Kondo (1986)J. Microencaps. 3, 203–212.
X. Zhang, U. P. Wyss, D. Pichora, and M. F. A. Goosen (1994)J. Bioact. Compat. Polym. 9, 80–100.
N. S. Mason, C. S. Miles, and R. E. Sparks (1981) in C. G. Gebelein and F. F. Koblitz (eds.),Biomedical and Dental Application of Polymers, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 279–291.
M. S. Reeve, S. P. McCarthy, M. J. Downey, and R. A. Gross (1994)Macromolecules 27, 825–831.
E.-J. Nyns (1986) in W. Schonbom (ed.),Biotechnology; A Comprehensive Treatise in 8 Volumes, VCH, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shin, P.K., Kim, M.H. & Kim, J.M. Biodegradability of degradable plastics exposed to anaerobic digested sludge and simulated landfill conditions. J Environ Polym Degr 5, 33–39 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02763566
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02763566