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A New Test Method for Determining Biodegradation of Plastic Material Under Controlled Aerobic Conditions in a Soil-Simulation Solid Environment

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Abstract

A new test method is described for assessing biodegradation of plastic material under simulated soil conditions. An inert substrate can be activated with soil extract and nutrient and used in place of soil in biodegradation tests. The biodegradation level is evaluated by determining the carbon dioxide (CO2) production released by the test reactors. Effects of substrate nature, solution pH, nutrient composition, soil extract concentration, and activation duration on CO2 production were investigated, and the experimental conditions were optimized. Results obtained with cellulose showed a biodegradation rate of 80% within 28 days. Moreover, with this kind of substrate, reaction products and residues can be easily extracted and analysed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Chimie Agro-industrielle UMR 1010 INRA/INPT-ENSIACET, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Ingénieurs en Arts Chimiques et Technologiques, 118 route de Narbonne, 31077, Toulouse cedex, France

    Sophie Grima & Françoise Silvestre

  2. Cemagref, 361 rue JF Breton, BP 5095, 34033, Montpellier Cedex 01, France

    Sophie Grima, Véronique Bellon-Maurel & Pierre Feuilloley

Authors
  1. Sophie Grima
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  2. Véronique Bellon-Maurel
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  3. Françoise Silvestre
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  4. Pierre Feuilloley
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Correspondence to Sophie Grima.

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Grima, S., Bellon-Maurel, V., Silvestre, F. et al. A New Test Method for Determining Biodegradation of Plastic Material Under Controlled Aerobic Conditions in a Soil-Simulation Solid Environment. Journal of Polymers and the Environment 9, 39–48 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016044504688

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