Study of the desintegration and biodegradation of poly(butylene adipate co-terephtalate) mulch films

Abstract

The use of plastic films for mulching is widespread in agriculture. However, the use of these films is associated with the negative environmental impact of waste generation, which demands costs for adequate disposal. Thus, it is interesting to evaluate conventional mulch films that are biodegradable and could be incorporated into the soil after using without a need for removal and final destination for sanitary landfills. In this context, this study aims to study the biodegradation of PBAT formulations proposed for application in agriculture, by evaluating their disintegration and biodegradation in soil. Taking into account that the photodegradation processes act on important properties of the polymer during its shelf life, the disintegration and biodegradation assays will be carried out on samples that were previously submitted by accelerated ageing test. This project is part of a PhD project in which the beneficiary will carry out some specific activities and will have the opportunity to follow some activities carried out by the PhD student. (AU)