Biodegradation of bioplastics from agro wastes

Bioplastics, as they derive from renewable sources, can degrade in the soil quickly compared to plastics obtained from traditional fossil sources. These biomaterials avoid the pressing problem of plastic pollution worldwide and allow the ecological transition from a linear economy to a circular economy. In this work, the degradation rate of bioplastics obtained from agri-food waste with different chemical formulations were analysed. To observe the influence of the composition parameters with respect to the degradation time, biodegradation tests were carried out in the soil (composting) according to the ASTM D5988-18. Carbon dioxide monitoring, according to ISO 17556:2019, has been performed together with a thermomechanical characterization and a wettability/roughness analysis of the surfaces before and for 6 months of degradation in soil. All experimental results show that by regulating the chemical composition of the bioplastics it is possible to vary the biodegradation time in soil. The applications can be, for example, in the field of floriculture, to replace the millions of plastic pots currently produced.