Biodegradation in Soil of Commercial Plastic Bags Labelled as “Biodegradable”

Biodegradation of Degradable/Biodegradable Plastic Material in Controlled Composting Environment

The biodegradability of different plastic material was investigated under aerobic conditions. The samples were placed in the compost pile and were checked over 15 weeks. After the expiration of the experimental period it was found that the samples with the additive (samples 1, 2, and 3) had not decomposed, their color had not changed, and that no degradation or physical changes had occurred. SE...

Starch/Polyester Films: Simultaneous Optimisation of the Properties for the Production of Biodegradable Plastic Bags

Blends of starch/polyester have been of great interest in the development of biodegradable packaging. A method based on multiple responses optimisation (Desirability) was used to evaluate the properties of tensile strength, perforation force, elongation and seal strength of cassava starch/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blown films produced via a one-step reactive extrusion using...

Abiotic and Biotic Degradation of Oxo-Biodegradable Plastic Bags by Pleurotus ostreatus

In this study, we evaluated the growth of Pleurotus ostreatus PLO6 using oxo-biodegradable plastics as a carbon and energy source. Oxo-biodegradable polymers contain pro-oxidants that accelerate their physical and biological degradation. These polymers were developed to decrease the accumulation of plastic waste in landfills. To study the degradation of the plastic polymers, oxo-biodegradable p...

Plastic Bags: Hazards and Mitigation

Failure to sterilize in plastic bags.

The ideal container for discarded cultures and other contaminated materials which require autoclaving to render them safe should be reasonably cheap, resistant to corrosion, leak-proof, and capable of allowing the passage of steam to all parts of its contents. Perhaps because of the difficulty of meeting all these requirements with the metal containers which have traditionally been used some la...