Marine degradation of plastics in Western Mediterranean Sea: Comparison between biodegradable and conventional polymers
Biodegradable polymers have been proposed as a possible solution to plastic pollution in the ocean but there is still a lack of knowledge about their behavior in this particular ecosystem due to the great variability of marine habitats. The abiotic and biotic deterioration of biodegradable polymers...
| Autores: | , , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir |
| Repositorio: | RIUCV. Repositorio de la Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:riucv.ucv.es:20.500.12466/5778 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12466/5778 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Marine biodegradation Biopolymers Abiotic deterioration Commodities Lifetime Plastic pollution 2510 Oceanografía 3312.10 Plásticos |
| Sumario: | Biodegradable polymers have been proposed as a possible solution to plastic pollution in the ocean but there is still a lack of knowledge about their behavior in this particular ecosystem due to the great variability of marine habitats. The abiotic and biotic deterioration of biodegradable polymers -polylactic acid (PLA) and poly(3- hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), (PHBV) - and conventional polymers - polyamide 6/6.6 copolymer (PA), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) - were studied throughout 12 months of immersion in the western Mediterranean sea. The behavior of PLA was not distinct from that of the non-biodegradable plastics. PA, PE and PP only showed small changes derived from their interaction with the marine environment. Their low mass reduction and attrition of mechanical properties were ascribed to abiotic factors. Biodegradation was clearly observed only for the PHBV, reaching a 16 % of weight loss in the registered period and showing an increased surface roughness, and higher biofilm density than the rest of materials. However, as time progressed, a noticeable reduction in the biodegradation rate was observed. This decline may be attributed to a limitation of optimal conditions for microorganisms on the material’s surface, likely influenced by the unique characteristics of the surrounding environment, such as biofouling, pollution, and temperature variations. FTIR experiments confirmed the layer-by-layer degradation mechanism starting from amorphous zones. This is a step forward in understanding the degradability of polymers in specific marine environments required for developing prediction systems of plastics’ lifetime in the ocean. |
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