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Insights into solid-waste management of poly(1,4-butylene adipate-co-1,4-butylene terephthalate): Degradation behavior under model industrial conditions
Sikorska, Wanda Duale, Khadar Musioł, Marta Janeczek, Henryk Hercog, Anna Olszowska, Karolina Marcinkowski, Andrzej Andrä-Żmuda, Silke Godzierz, Marcin Pławszewska, Marzena
Sikorska, Wanda
Duale, Khadar
Musioł, Marta
Janeczek, Henryk
Hercog, Anna
Olszowska, Karolina
Marcinkowski, Andrzej
Andrä-Żmuda, Silke
Godzierz, Marcin
Pławszewska, Marzena
Authors
Sikorska, Wanda
Duale, Khadar
Musioł, Marta
Janeczek, Henryk
Hercog, Anna
Olszowska, Karolina
Marcinkowski, Andrzej
Andrä-Żmuda, Silke
Godzierz, Marcin
Pławszewska, Marzena
Puskas, Judit E.
Michel, Frederick C.
Klingman, Michael
Focarete, Maria Letizia
Fray, Miroslawa El
Gorący, Krzysztof
Walkowiak, Konrad
Rokicka, Joanna
Niedźwiedź, Malwina
Radecka, Iza
Gupta, Abhishek
Kowalczuk, Marek
Rydz, Joanna
Duale, Khadar
Musioł, Marta
Janeczek, Henryk
Hercog, Anna
Olszowska, Karolina
Marcinkowski, Andrzej
Andrä-Żmuda, Silke
Godzierz, Marcin
Pławszewska, Marzena
Puskas, Judit E.
Michel, Frederick C.
Klingman, Michael
Focarete, Maria Letizia
Fray, Miroslawa El
Gorący, Krzysztof
Walkowiak, Konrad
Rokicka, Joanna
Niedźwiedź, Malwina
Radecka, Iza
Gupta, Abhishek
Kowalczuk, Marek
Rydz, Joanna
Editors
Other contributors
Epub Date
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2026-04-17
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Abstract
In this study, a comprehensive comparison of degradation dynamics across different environments of the aliphatic-aromatic copolyester poly(1,4-butylene adipate-co-1,4-butylene terephthalate) (PBAT), commercially known as Ecoflex®, is presented. Effective solid-waste management via organic recycling of biodegradable polymer waste requires a thorough understanding of both their aerobic and anaerobic degradation processes. The results of degradation studies on PBAT-based films, solvent-cast and pressed/molded – with and without the addition of randomly methylated β-cyclodextrin (RM-β-CD), under model industrial conditions: aerobic composting, anaerobic digestion, and hydrolytic degradation (used as a reference process) were discussed. The inclusive assessment of morphological and physicochemical changes provided valuable insight into the degradation dynamics of PBAT-based films under model industrial conditions which constitutes a central and novel contribution of this study. Furthermore, the careful selection of model systems played a crucial role in enabling the evaluation of the influence of RM-β-CD on key polymer properties, such as degradability and crystallinity. The findings demonstrate that the degradation profile of PBAT can be modulated by adjusting the production method and/or incorporating suitable additives. Furthermore, effective plastic waste management and the selection of appropriate composting strategies remain essential to minimizing environmental impact.
Citation
Sikorska, W., Duale, K., Musioł, M. et al.(2026) Insights into solid-waste management of poly(1,4-butylene adipate-co-1,4-butylene terephthalate): Degradation behavior under model industrial conditions. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 249, 112125.
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Journal article
Language
en
Description
This is an author's accepted manuscript of an article published by Elsevier on 17/04/2026, available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2026.112125
The accepted manuscript may differ from the final published version.
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0141-3910
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Sponsors
This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 872152, project GREEN-MAP, an international project co-financed by the program of the Minister of Science and Higher Education entitled “PMW” in the years 2020–2024, contract No. 5092/H2020/2020/2 and Joint Polish-Bulgarian project under the agreement on scientific cooperation between the Polish Academy of Sciences and Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, “Tailor-made green polymer systems for advanced medical and packaging applications”. Ms. Nina Stefaniak is acknowledged for her help with the biodegradation tests. The authors also gratefully acknowledge funding from USDA-NIFA, including HATCH Multi-State project W4045: Agrochemical impacts on human and environmental health: Mechanisms and mitigation, and HATCH project number OHO01417, as well as startup funds from the Ohio State University #11232011000-11-PUSKAS.