Biodegradation of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate- co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) Plastic under Anaerobic Sludge and Aerobic Seawater Conditions: Gas Evolution and Microbial Diversity

Environ Sci Technol. 2018 May 15;52(10):5700-5709. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.7b06688. Epub 2018 Apr 30.

Abstract

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate- co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (poly(3HB- co-3HHx)) thermoplastics are a promising biodegradable alternative to traditional plastics for many consumer applications. Biodegradation measured by gaseous carbon loss of several types of poly(3HB- co-3HHx) plastic was investigated under anaerobic conditions and aerobic seawater environments. Under anaerobic conditions, the biodegradation levels of a manufactured sheet of poly(3HB- co-3HHx) and cellulose powder were not significantly different from one another over 85 days with 77.1 ± 6.1 and 62.9 ± 19.7% of the carbon converted to gas, respectively. However, the sheet of poly(3HB- co-3HHx) had significantly higher methane yield ( p ≤ 0.05), 483.8 ± 35.2 mL·g-1 volatile solid (VS), compared to cellulose controls, 290.1 ± 92.7 mL·g-1 VS, which is attributed to a greater total carbon content. Under aerobic seawater conditions (148-195 days at room temperature), poly(3HB- co-3HHx) sheets were statistically similar to cellulose for biodegradation as gaseous carbon loss (up to 83% loss in about 6 months), although the degradation rate was lower than that for cellulose. The microbial diversity was investigated in both experiments to explore the dominant bacteria associated with biodegradation of poly(3HB- co-3HHx) plastic. For poly(3HB- co-3HHx) treatments, Cloacamonales and Thermotogales were enriched under anaerobic sludge conditions, while Clostridiales, Gemmatales, Phycisphaerales, and Chlamydiales were the most enriched under aerobic seawater conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid
  • Anaerobiosis
  • Caproates
  • Plastics*
  • Polyesters
  • Seawater
  • Sewage*

Substances

  • Caproates
  • Plastics
  • Polyesters
  • Sewage
  • 3-hydroxyhexanoic acid
  • 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid