Abstract
Bioplastics have emerged as a viable alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastic (PET). Three of the most common bioplastic polymers are polyhydroxybutyrate-valerate (PHBV), polylactide (PLA), and cellulose-based bioplastic (CBB). This study assessed biodegradation through anaerobic digestion (AD) of these three bioplastics and PET digested with food waste (FW) at mesophilic (35 °C) and thermophilic (55 °C) temperatures. The four plastic types were digested with FW in triplicate batch reactors. Additionally, two blank treatments (inoculum-only) and two PHBV treatments (with FW + inoculum and inoculum-only) were digested at 35 and 55 °C. The PHBV treatment without FW at 35 °C (PHBV-35) produced the most methane (CH4) normalized by the volatile solids (VS) of the bioplastics over the 104-day experimental period (271 mL CH4/g VS). Most bioplastics had more CH4 production than PET when normalized by digester volume or gram substrate added, with the PLA-FW-55 (5.80 m3 CH4/m3), PHBV-FW-55 (2.29 m3 CH4/m3), and PHBV-55 (4.05 m3 CH4/m3) having 848,275 and 561%, respectively, more CH4 production than the PET treatment. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed full degradation of PHBV pellets after AD. The results show that when PHBV is used as bioplastic, it can be degraded with energy production through AD.
Highlights
Plastic waste is increasing across the world
The results show that when PHBV is used as bioplastic, it can be degraded with energy production through anaerobic digestion (AD)
This study investigated degradation and biogas production potential through anaerobic digestion (AD) of several bioplastic polymers compared to a petroleum-based plastic
Summary
Traditional petroleum-based polymers have high carbon emissions due to the extraction and refinement processes associated with their production [1]. In addition to the emissions associated with their manufacture, petroleum plastics cannot be degraded naturally by microorganisms [2]. This makes it difficult to efficiently process petroleum-based plastic (PET) without using harsh chemicals and creating harmful waste products. It is necessary to increase the use of alternatives to petroleum-based plastics that have less emissions associated with their manufacture, with the ability to be degraded or processed without the use of hazardous wastes products. This study investigated degradation and biogas production potential through anaerobic digestion (AD) of several bioplastic polymers compared to a petroleum-based plastic
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