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Comparative Biodegradation in Soil Behaviour of two Biodegradable Polymers Based on Renewable Resources

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Abstract

This work presents the last phase of long-term experimental studies on the biodegradation in soil behaviour of polymers destined for agricultural applications. The paper focuses on comparative studies between the biodegradation in soil behaviour of two important biodegradable polymers based on renewable resources: poly(lactic acid) (PLA) versus polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Full-scale experiments were carried out during the period June 2008–January 2009. Different methods of exposure were applied in the case of polyhydroxyalkanoates, simulating the agricultural biodegradable mulching films use and their fate in soil after the end of their useful lifetime. The field results were compared with the results of biodegradation under controlled laboratory conditions simulating biodegradation in soil, using soil from the experimental field. Further, the field results were compared against the results of biodegradation under farm composting conditions.

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Acknowledgments

The work has been carried out under the project BIODESOPO funded by the European Commission (Marie Curie Fellowship of Dr. Ewa Rudnik). Dr. Ewa Rudnik thanks Mr. D.Giannopoulos from the AUA team for his help. The authors would like to express their thanks to Metabolix for the supplied Mirel samples and for providing relevant technical information.

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  1. E. Rudnik

    Present address: Industrial Chemistry Research Institute, Rydygiera 8, 01-793, Warsaw, Poland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855, Athens, Greece

    E. Rudnik & D. Briassoulis

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  1. E. Rudnik
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  2. D. Briassoulis
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Correspondence to D. Briassoulis.

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Rudnik, E., Briassoulis, D. Comparative Biodegradation in Soil Behaviour of two Biodegradable Polymers Based on Renewable Resources. J Polym Environ 19, 18–39 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-010-0243-7

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