A comparative study of degradation mechanisms of PBSA and PHBV under laboratoryscale composting conditions

International audienceBiodegradable plastics appear as one promising means to help solving the increasing issue of environmental pollution by plastics. The present study aims at comparing the biodegradation mechanisms of two promising biodegradable plastics, PHBV Poly(3hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and PBSA Poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) with the objective to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms involved and identify the most relevant indicators to follow biodegradation. For this purpose, the progress of the biodegradation process was monitored under controlled composting conditions at the laboratory scale at 58°C using several methodological approaches for evaluating polymer degradation. Indicators of the extent of material disappearance based on respirometry an