Towards a Home End-of-Life for Bioplastics: Multiscale Characterization and Compostability of PLA, PBS, and PBAT-Based Biocomposites
Résumé
This work investigates the home-compostability of biocomposites made from biodegradable polyesters (PLA, PBS, PBAT) reinforced with agro-industrial by-products (orange peel, brewer’s spent grain). A multiscale approach was applied, combining material characterization, respirometric biodegradation tests, microbial isolation, and phytotoxicity assessment. Results show that PBS-based composites reached satisfactory mineralization (>60%) under mesophilic conditions, while neat PBAT remained almost intact and non-mineralized. In contrast, the PBAT/BSG biocomposite fully fragmented and achieved moderate mineralization (~24.5% in 200 days at 28 °C), likely due to enhanced hydrolytic accessibility. Bioaugmentation with selected bacterial consortia enhanced PBS mineralization but had limited effects on the PBS/OP biocomposite. Overall, this research emphasizes the dual strategy of designing bio-based composites from underutilized waste and enhancing microbial processes to support domestic composting as a sustainable end-of-life pathway for biodegradable plastics.
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