Abstract
Eight kinds of biodegradable plastics were compared for their degradability in controlled laboratory composting conditions. A thin film of each plastic was mixed into the composting material, and weight-loss degradability was calculated from the weight changes of the film during composting. It was found that weight-loss degradability strongly depended on the specific kind of biodegradable plastic; two were very high, four moderate, and the remaining two very slight. The most easily degradable plastic degraded by as much as 81.4% over 8 days of composting. By comparing the weight-loss degradability with ultimate degradability, which is defined as a molar ratio of carbon loss as CO2 to the carbon contained in the biodegradable plastic, the order of the ease of degradation of the biodegradable plastics differed.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: February 7, 2000 / Accepted April 14, 2000
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ohtaki, A., Nakasaki, K. Comparison of the weight-loss degradability of various biodegradable plastics under laboratory composting conditions. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag 2, 118–124 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-000-0026-7
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-000-0026-7