Study of the Biodegradation of PLA/PBAT Films after Biodegradation Tests in Soil and the Aqueous Medium

Autor(es)

Barbosa Camargo Lamparelli, Rita de Cassia ; Montagna, Larissa Stieven ; Bernardo da Silva, Ana Paula ; do Amaral Montanheiro, Thais Larissa ; Lemes, Ana Paula

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: BIOINTERFACE RESEARCH IN APPLIED CHEMISTRY; v. 12, n. 1, p. 14-pg., 2022-02-15.

Resumo

The intense consumption of conventional plastics has been generating a series of problems for nature due to the accumulation of municipal solid waste because of its difficult degradation. Therefore, the use of biodegradable polymers becomes a good option to minimize these effects. Poly (lactide acid)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PLA/PBAT) is a biodegradable blend that can be used mainly in applications that have a short shelf life. So, it is important to know the total biodegradation time of this blend. For this reason, PLA/PBAT films (1.5 x 1.5 x 0.15 cm) were produced by thermal compression molding to be subjected to biodegradation tests in soil and aqueous medium for 180 days. The films were characterized by visual analysis, weight loss measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), contact angle, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). DSC showed an increase of 0.7% in PLA crystallinity subjected to the aqueous medium, while FT-IR showed a reduction in the bands at 1710 cm-1 and 1100 cm-1, as a result of hydrolysis for both methodologies. The blend's hydrophilic character was increased after both degradation processes, presenting a reduction of 34.5% in the contact angle after biodegradation in soil. From the results, it was possible to conclude that PLA/PBAT films did not degrade completely, as expected, but showed signs that indicated the beginning of the degradation. The degradation was more effective in the aqueous medium. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 17/24873-4 - Nanocompósito de PHBV e NTC funcionalizado com hidroxibutirato: estudo cinético da cristalização e correlação com as propriedades mecânicas
• Beneficiário: Thaís Larissa do Amaral Montanheiro
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 17/11386-8 - Estudo da influência da fotodegradação acelerada na biodegradação em solo de filmes de Ecovio®
• Beneficiário: Rita de Cássia Barbosa Camargo Lamparelli
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica