Assessing the anaerobic degradability and the potential recovery of biomethane from different biodegradable bioplastics in a full-scale approach. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cucina, Mirko; Soggia, Gabriele; De Nisi, Patrizia; Giordano, Andrea; Adani, Fabrizio
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 354(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Biopolymers -- Circular economy -- Polylactic acid -- Starch-based bioplastics -- Waste management; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127224
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Full-scale assessment of bioplastics' anaerobic degradation. Starch-based and polylactic acid-based bioplastics degrade differently during AD. AD of polylactid acid-based items produce large amount of biomethane. Bioplastics' AD can reduce their leakage into natural environments. Starch-based shoppers may be degraded by coupled AD and composting. Abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anaerobic degradability and the potential recovery of biomethane from different bioplastics using a full-scale approach. Bioplastics were placed inside a real anaerobic digestion plant working under thermophilic conditions and quantitative and qualitative degradation of bioplastics was evaluated. Laboratory-scale experiments were used to determine the amount of biomethane produced by anaerobic degradation of bioplastics. Polylactic acid-based items may degrade completely using retention times compatible with anaerobic digestion plants contributing positively to biomethane production, i.e., in 90 days 397 ± 8 NL CH4 kgvolatile solids -1 were produced by polylactic acid-based cutlery. Starch-based shoppers showed a quick degradation of the starch component in the first month of anaerobic digestion, followed by a slow degradation of the polyester component. Anaerobic digestion and/or anaerobic digestion coupled to digestate composting may represent the best strategy to dispose these wastes meeting the principles of Circular Economy.