Abstract
Polylactic acid (PLA) is expected to replace many general-purpose plastics, especially those used for food packaging and agricultural mulch. In composting, the degradation speed of PLA is affected by the molecular weight, crystallinity, and microbial activity. PLA with a molecular weight of less than 10,000 has been reported to have higher decomposition rates than those with higher molecular weight. However, PLA degradation generates water-soluble products, including lactic acid, that decrease the pH of soil or compost. As acidification of soil or compost affects farm products, their pH should be controlled. Therefore, a method for determining suitable reaction conditions to achieve ideal decomposition products is necessary. This study aimed to determine suitable reaction conditions for generating preprocessed PLA with a molecular weight lower than 10,000 without producing water-soluble contents. To this end, we investigated the degradation of PLA using sub-critical water. The molecular weight and ratio of water-soluble contents (WSCs) affecting the pH of preprocessed products were evaluated through kinetic analysis, and crystallinity was analyzed through differential scanning calorimetry. Preprocessed PLA was prepared under the determined ideal conditions, and its characteristics in soil were observed. The results showed that the crystallization rate increased with PLA decomposition but remained lower than 30%. In addition, the pH of compost mixed with 40% of preprocessed PLA could be controlled within pH 5.4–5.5 over 90 days. Overall, soil mixed with the preprocessed PLA prepared under the determined ideal conditions remains suitable for plant growth.
Highlights
There are at least 34,000,000 tons of plastic waste in the world, of which 93% is discharged into the natural environment through activities such as landfilling and ocean dumping [1]
Paper is mostly made from cellulose, which is a common material in the natural environment, while a biodegradable polymer is an artificial material
A higher reaction temperature increased the rate of Mn decrease. This observed decomposition tendency is the same as that reported in previous studies [40], the rate of decomposition was faster than reported. These differences in the decomposition rate are attributed to differences in the molecular weight, degree of crystallization, and the shape of polylactic acid (PLA) when loaded into the reactor
Summary
There are at least 34,000,000 tons of plastic waste in the world, of which 93% is discharged into the natural environment through activities such as landfilling and ocean dumping [1]. As plastic waste is highly persistent and generates secondary pollutants, the demand for alternative materials that can reduce environmental loading has increased. This demand has accelerated the use of paper and biodegradable polymers. Paper is mostly made from cellulose, which is a common material in the natural environment, while a biodegradable polymer is an artificial material. Polylactic acid (PLA) is the most widely used plastic variety of a biodegradable polymer, and it is expected to replace many
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