Thermoalkaline pretreatment as a key step to poly-lactic acid (PLA) biodegradation in anaerobic digesters

Vista sencilla de ítem
dc.contributor.affiliationDepartamento de Ingeniería Hidráulica y Medio Ambiente
dc.contributor.affiliationInstituto Universitario de Ingeniería del Agua y del Medio Ambiente
dc.contributor.affiliationEscuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Caminos, Canales y Puertos
dc.contributor.authorLera, M.es_ES
dc.contributor.authorSantonja-Coloma, Marina
dc.contributor.authorFerrer, J. F.es_ES
dc.contributor.authorMartí Ortega, Nuriaes_ES
dc.contributor.authorSerralta Sevilla, Joaquín
dc.contributor.funderGeneralitat Valencianaes_ES
dc.date.accessioned2026-05-14T13:21:21Z
dc.date.available2026-05-14T13:21:21Z
dc.date.issued2025-12es_ES
dc.description.abstract[EN] Among various end-of-life options for polylactic acid (PLA), anaerobic digestion (AD) has emerged as a promising strategy for its valorisation. However, PLA exhibits limited biodegradability under standard AD conditions (35 degrees C, 20-25 days). This study aims to increase the biodegradability of PLA through various pretreatments, thereby facilitating its effective co-digestion with wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) sludge. With this aim, different pretreatments (physical, chemical, and enzymatic) were evaluated at laboratory scale to determine the most effective. This study provides a systematic evaluation of operational parameters and a comprehensive comparison of pretreatment methods for PLA to achieve its anaerobic degradation in WWTPs. Chemical pretreatment (alkaline hydrolysis with NaOH) exhibited the highest efficiency, achieving complete hydrolysis and 75-80 % biodegradability in biomethane potential assays. Twelve chemical pretreatment experiments were conducted at various temperatures ranging from 30 to 90 degrees C and NaOH concentrations from 0.3 M to 1 M. The hydrolysis rates increased with both temperature and NaOH concentration. Alkaline hydrolysis with NaOH depolymerised PLA into lactate monomers, which are readily biodegradable under AD conditions. This process allows PLA to be integrated into AD systems at WWTPs, promoting renewable energy generation. A novel first-order kinetics model was developed to describe the PLA hydrolysis considering temperature and NaOH concentration. Reaction rates rose with both, from 6 L & sdot;mg-1 & sdot;h-1 at 30 degrees C to 48 L & sdot;mg-1 & sdot;h-1 at 90 degrees C. The model reproduced the temporal evolution of soluble chemical oxygen demand, with predicted values closely matching experimental data (R2 = 0.983), demonstrating its robustness in capturing PLA hydrolysis kinetics.es_ES
dc.description.accrualMethodSes_ES
dc.description.bibliographicCitationLera, M.; Santonja-Coloma, Marina; Ferrer, JF.; Martí Ortega, N.; Serralta Sevilla, Joaquín (2025). Thermoalkaline pretreatment as a key step to poly-lactic acid (PLA) biodegradation in anaerobic digesters. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING. 13(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.120023es_ES
dc.description.issue6es_ES
dc.description.referencesBauer, F., Nielsen, T. D., Nilsson, L. J., Palm, E., Ericsson, K., Fråne, A., & Cullen, J. (2022). Plastics and climate change—Breaking carbon lock-ins through three mitigation pathways. One Earth, 5(4), 361-376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.03.007es_ES
dc.description.referencesPlastics Europe. The Circular Economy for Plastics – A European Analysis 2024. Brussels: Plastics Europe; 2024. Available from: 〈https://plasticseurope.org/knowledge-hub/the-circular-economy-for-plastics-a-european-analysis-2024/〉.es_ES
dc.description.referencesCosta, J. P. d., Avellan, A., Mouneyrac, C., Duarte, A., & Rocha-Santos, T. (2023). Plastic additives and microplastics as emerging contaminants: Mechanisms and analytical assessment. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 158, 116898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2022.116898es_ES
dc.description.referencesMaddela, N. R., Kakarla, D., Venkateswarlu, K., & Megharaj, M. (2023). Additives of plastics: Entry into the environment and potential risks to human and ecological health. Journal of Environmental Management, 348, 119364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119364es_ES
dc.description.referencesAli, S. S., Abdelkarim, E. A., Elsamahy, T., Al-Tohamy, R., Li, F., Kornaros, M., Zuorro, A., Zhu, D., & Sun, J. (2023). Bioplastic production in terms of life cycle assessment: A state-of-the-art review. Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, 15, 100254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ese.2023.100254es_ES
dc.description.referencesRosenboom, J.-G., Langer, R., & Traverso, G. (2022). Bioplastics for a circular economy. Nature Reviews Materials, 7(2), 117-137. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-021-00407-8es_ES
dc.description.referencesBattista, F., Frison, N., & Bolzonella, D. (2021). Can bioplastics be treated in conventional anaerobic digesters for food waste treatment? Environmental Technology & Innovation, 22, 101393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.101393es_ES
dc.description.referencesCazaudehore, G., Guyoneaud, R., Evon, P., Martin-Closas, L., Pelacho, A. M., Raynaud, C., & Monlau, F. (2022). Can anaerobic digestion be a suitable end-of-life scenario for biodegradable plastics? A critical review of the current situation, hurdles, and challenges. Biotechnology Advances, 56, 107916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107916es_ES
dc.description.referencesPublications Office of the European Union. Directive (EU) 2024/3019 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 on the treatment of urban wastewater. Official Journal of the European Union, 2024. Available from: 〈http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/3019/oj〉.es_ES
dc.description.referencesLera, M., Ferrer, J. F., Borrás, L., Serralta, J., & Martí, N. (2024). Bioplastic’s Valorisation by Anaerobic Co-Digestion with WWTP Mixed Sludge. Water, 16(22), 3293. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16223293es_ES
dc.description.referencesÁlvarez-Méndez, S. J., Ramos-Suárez, J. L., Ritter, A., Mata González, J., & Camacho Pérez, Á. (2023). Anaerobic digestion of commercial PLA and PBAT biodegradable plastic bags: Potential biogas production and 1H NMR and ATR-FTIR assessed biodegradation. Heliyon, 9(6), e16691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16691es_ES
dc.description.referencesBernat, K., Kulikowska, D., Wojnowska-Baryła, I., Zaborowska, M., & Pasieczna-Patkowska, S. (2021). Thermophilic and mesophilic biogas production from PLA-based materials: Possibilities and limitations. Waste Management, 119, 295-305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2020.10.006es_ES
dc.description.referencesCazaudehore, G., Monlau, F., Gassie, C., Lallement, A., & Guyoneaud, R. (2023). Active microbial communities during biodegradation of biodegradable plastics by mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 443, 130208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130208es_ES
dc.description.referencesVardar, S., Demirel, B., & Onay, T. T. (2022). Degradability of bioplastics in anaerobic digestion systems and their effects on biogas production: a review. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology, 21(1), 205-223. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-021-09610-zes_ES
dc.description.referencesCucina, M., De Nisi, P., Trombino, L., Tambone, F., & Adani, F. (2021). Degradation of bioplastics in organic waste by mesophilic anaerobic digestion, composting and soil incubation. Waste Management, 134, 67-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2021.08.016es_ES
dc.description.referencesNsair, A., Onen Cinar, S., Alassali, A., Abu Qdais, H., & Kuchta, K. (2020). Operational Parameters of Biogas Plants: A Review and Evaluation Study. Energies, 13(15), 3761. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13153761es_ES
dc.description.referencesCucina. (2023). Thermo-alkaline pre-treatment operated by digestate improved biomethane production. Bioresour. Technol. Rep. 21.es_ES
dc.description.referencesGarcía-Depraect, O., Lebrero, R., Martínez-Mendoza, L. J., Rodriguez-Vega, S., Aragão Börner, R., Börner, T., & Muñoz, R. (2023). Enhancement of biogas production rate from bioplastics by alkaline pretreatment. Waste Management, 164, 154-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2023.04.009es_ES
dc.description.referencesVasmara, C., Cazaudehore, G., Ceotto, E., Marchetti, R., Sambusiti, C., & Monlau, F. (2024). Alkali, thermal, or thermo-alkali pre-treatment to improve the anaerobic digestion of poly(lactic acid)? Water Research, 258, 121744. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.121744es_ES
dc.description.referencesBaltierra-Trejo. (2016). Positive effect of UV pretreatment on anaerobic degradation of plastic film. Actual. Biol. 17.es_ES
dc.description.referencesMat Yasin, N., Akkermans, S., & Van Impe, J. F. M. (2022). Enhancing the biodegradation of (bio)plastic through pretreatments: A critical review. Waste Management, 150, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2022.06.004es_ES
dc.description.referencesLee. (2017). Biodegradability of polylactic acid fabrics. Text. Color. Finish. 29.es_ES
dc.description.referencesAl Abdallah, H., Abu-Jdayil, B., & Iqbal, M. Z. (2022). The Effect of Alkaline Treatment on Poly(lactic acid)/Date Palm Wood Green Composites for Thermal Insulation. Polymers, 14(6), 1143. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14061143es_ES
dc.description.referencesBenn, N., & Zitomer, D. (2018). Pretreatment and Anaerobic Co-digestion of Selected PHB and PLA Bioplastics. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2017.00093es_ES
dc.description.referencesGutiérrez-Silva. (2025). Ultrasonic chemo-thermal degradation of PBAT/TPS blends. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 232.es_ES
dc.description.referencesBioprocess Control, AMPTS III – Analytical tool for Biogas – BPC Instruments, BPC Instruments (n.d.).Available from: 〈https://bpcinstruments.com/bpc_products/ampts3/〉.es_ES
dc.description.referencesKriswantoro, J. A., Chu, C.-Y., Chang, T.-R., Pai, H.-J., Chang, C.-K., & Chiu, Y.-P. (2023). Comparison of thermal alkaline pretreatment and zinc acetate-catalyzed methanolysis (MtOH-ZnOAc) for anaerobic digestion of bioplastic waste. Bioresource Technology, 377, 128959. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128959es_ES
dc.description.referencesSamitthiwetcharong, S. (2019). ENHANCEMENT OF METHANE PRODUCTION FROM ALKALINE PRETREATED POLY (LACTIC ACID) WASTE BY THE CO-DIGESTION PROCESS. International Journal of GEOMATE, 16(56). https://doi.org/10.21660/2019.56.4773es_ES
dc.description.referencesSourkouni, G., Jeremić, S., Kalogirou, C., Höfft, O., Nenadovic, M., Jankovic, V., Rajasekaran, D., Pandis, P., Padamati, R., Nikodinovic-Runic, J., & Argirusis, C. (2023). Study of PLA pre-treatment, enzymatic and model-compost degradation, and valorization of degradation products to bacterial nanocellulose. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 39(6). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-023-03605-4es_ES
dc.description.referencesJiang, X., Bi, D., Cheng, Y., Wang, S., Peng, B.-y., Shen, H., Zhang, T., Xia, X., Shen, Z., & Zhang, Y. (2023). Enzyme pretreatments for anaerobic co-digestion of food waste blended with bioplastics: effects on methane production and microbial community structure. New Journal of Chemistry, 47(45), 20846-20858. https://doi.org/10.1039/d3nj02505ees_ES
dc.description.referencesWong, V. N. L., Greene, R. S. B., Dalal, R. C., & Murphy, B. W. (2010). Soil carbon dynamics in saline and sodic soils: a review. Soil Use and Management, 26(1), 2-11. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2009.00251.xes_ES
dc.description.referencesMoset, V., Xavier, C. d. A. N., Feng, L., Wahid, R., & Møller, H. B. (2018). Combined low thermal alkali addition and mechanical pre-treatment to improve biogas yield from wheat straw. Journal of Cleaner Production, 172, 1391-1398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.173es_ES
dc.description.referencesHobbs. (2019). Anaerobic codigestion of food waste and polylactic acid: effect of pretreatment on methane yield and solid reduction. Adv. Mater. Sci. Eng. 6.es_ES
dc.description.referencesCazaudehore, G., Guyoneaud, R., Vasmara, C., Greuet, P., Gastaldi, E., Marchetti, R., Leonardi, F., Turon, R., & Monlau, F. (2022). Impact of mechanical and thermo-chemical pretreatments to enhance anaerobic digestion of poly(lactic acid). Chemosphere, 297, 133986. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133986es_ES
dc.description.referencesCiuffi, B., Fratini, E., & Rosi, L. (2024). Plastic pretreatment: The key for efficient enzymatic and biodegradation processes. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 222, 110698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2024.110698es_ES
dc.description.referencesHajji. (2022). The effect of thermochemical pretreatment on anaerobic digestion efficiency of municipal solid waste under mesophilic conditions. Sci. Afr. 16.es_ES
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research work was supported by the Agencia Valenciana de la Innovacio (AVI) of the Generalitat Valenciana (Spain) through the Project "VALPLAST" (INNEST/2023/198 and INNEST/2023/139, which is gratefully acknowledged.es_ES
dc.description.volume13es_ES
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.jece.2025.120023es_ES
dc.identifier.issn2213-2929es_ES
dc.identifier.urihttps://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/235162
dc.languageIngléses_ES
dc.publisherElsevieres_ES
dc.relation.ispartofJOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERINGes_ES
dc.relation.pasarelaS\574357es_ES
dc.relation.projectIDinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/GVA//INNEST%2F2023%2F198/es_ES
dc.relation.projectIDinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/GVA//INNEST%2F2023%2F139/es_ES
dc.relation.publisherversionhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.120023es_ES
dc.rightsReconocimiento - No comercial - Sin obra derivada (by-nc-nd)es_ES
dc.rights.accessRightsAbiertoes_ES
dc.subjectLactatees_ES
dc.subjectAnaerobic digestiones_ES
dc.subjectPolylactic acides_ES
dc.subjectThermoalkaline pretreatmentes_ES
dc.subjectValorisationes_ES
dc.subject.ods06.- Garantizar la disponibilidad y la gestión sostenible del agua y el saneamiento para todoses_ES
dc.titleThermoalkaline pretreatment as a key step to poly-lactic acid (PLA) biodegradation in anaerobic digesterses_ES
dc.typeArtículoes_ES
dc.type.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiones_ES
dspace.entity.typePublication
person.identifier646172
person.identifier188822
person.identifier.orcid0000-0001-5015-0689
relation.isAuthorOfPublicationf2cada08-3dcf-4fa7-81fe-a7a61dbd9176
relation.isAuthorOfPublication6cead848-bbae-4a48-9669-cea840a6dc32
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscoveryf2cada08-3dcf-4fa7-81fe-a7a61dbd9176
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublicatione8876040-9428-45e8-b805-b5bbc20e9e1e
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublication937991bf-5e71-4f67-ae2a-1fb780a35167
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublicationa4b47ff5-95f4-430f-a1a3-541cb8eaa9b7
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublication.latestForDiscoverye8876040-9428-45e8-b805-b5bbc20e9e1e
upv.uuidf87ee5b9-9d44-4f21-8bd0-b236e29347dfes_ES

Archivos

Bloque original

Mostrando 1 - 1 de 1
Miniatura
Nombre:
LeraSantonja-ColomaFerrer - Thermoalkaline pretreatment as a key step to poly-lactic acid PLA bio....pdf
Tamaño:
2.35 MB
Formato:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Descripción:
Versión editorial
[object Object] Descargar

Colecciones

Artículos, conferencias, monografías