Abstract
PLA is a biopolymer with great potential for use in agriculture, but its biodegradability in soil is slow. PLA degrading microorganisms exist in soil and their activity can be improved with the addition of proteins. The aim of this work was to study the effect of gelatin addition on the final biodegradation of TPS/PLA blends in soil. After 180 days, the final biodegradation percentages for TPS, GE and PLA were 96%, 79% and 0%, respectively. The extruded blends of TPS/PLA/GE, TPS/PLA and PLA/GE, presented ultimate biodegradability of 63%, 57% and 25% respectively. The biodegradation rate during the initial stages was reduced due to the interaction of the components, without affecting the final values. There was rapid biodegradation of the TPS and gelatin fractions in the materials, while PLA did not undergo any mineralization process in the soil. The inclusion of gelatin in the matrix and in the soil did not increase the biodegradability of the PLA fraction in the extruded, nor in the control blends because the microorganisms present in the inoculum did not assimilate the PLA.
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