Lifetimes and mechanisms of biodegradation of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) in estuarine and marine field environments.

Coastal cities face significant challenges from plastic pollution, with most plastics being resistant to biodegradation. Biodegradable plastics are increasingly used to address this issue, particularly for items prone to entering, and then accumulating, in waterways, through littering or leakage. Among biodegradable plastics, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are notable as bioderived, bacterially synthesised aliphatic polyesters that are readily biodegradable in varied environments.

The effect of additives on the biodegradation of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) in marine field trials.

The persistence of conventional fossil fuel-derived plastics in marine ecosystems has raised significant environmental concerns. Biodegradable plastics are being explored as an alternative. This study investigates the biodegradation behaviour in two marine environments of melt-extruded sheets of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) bioplastic as well as blends of PHBV with a non-toxic plasticiser (triethyl citrate, TEC) and composites of PHBV with wood flour.