Degradation of PBAT plastics during the composting process

Abstract

The study investigated to the degradation of polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) during the composting process with cow manure and coconut coir. The results showed that PBAT was degradable during the composting process given the carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N ratio) and the average initial moisture content of 26.24 and 62.27 percent, respectively and the fermentation period was 42 days. The experiment 1 (P) and experiment 2 (P + EM) have 17.10 and 19.12 percent of the weight of PBAT lost during the fermentation process, respectively. PBAT degraded rapidly during days 0 – 7 of the study and tended to degrade at a constant rate during days 7 – 42 of the study. The experiment 2 (P + EM) had a degradation rate of 0.2695 % per day, higher than the experimental 1 (P), which had a degradation rate of 0.1954 % per day. Both sets of experiments had pH, total nitrogen (TKN), Total Potassium (Total K) and the gemination index (such as 81 Rice RD and mung bean) was within the organic fertilizer standards of the Department of Agriculture.