BIODEGRADABILITY IN SOIL AND COMPOSTING OF SYNTHETIC POLYESTER

A soil burial test was carried out with poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PC L)and poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA) films at 25 degrees C in soils and mature moist compost preparation. The rate of biodegrada tion of the PCL and PBSA films was strongly dependent on the soil text ures. The fastest rate in soil was 100% weight loss of the PCL film at 80 days, while the slowest rate in soil was 10% weight loss of the PC L and PBSA films at 80 or 90 days. Relationships between this test, th e field testing with PCL at the collecting places of soils and other f actors were investigated. The degrading films seemed able sometimes to remain in soils for three years or more depending on the properties o f soils and the environment. Next, the garbage with 3% addition of PBS A bags was applied to the composting verification test plant. it was f ound that PBSA bags were able to compost with garbage. It was confirme d that shredded PBSA bags did not prevent garbage from aerobic ferment ing and composting; thus the material was degraded and became invisibl e to the naked eye in approximately 10 similar to 20 days.