Study on Rapid Detection Method for Degradation Performance of Polyolefin-Based Degradable Plastics

In order to accurately determine the degradation performance of polyolefin-based degradable plastics, the concept of bioassimilated carbon is proposed for the first time in this paper; the bioactive and hydrophilic organic carbon in plastic degradation products is defined as bioassimilation carbon. A method for the detection of the carbonyl index and bioassimilated carbon conversion rate in polyolefin degradable plastics was developed to quickly identify its degradation performance. The measurement results show that the bioassimilated carbon conversion rate of more than 70% can be used to replace the biodegradation rate index to achieve the purpose of quickly identifying the degradation performance of plastics. The deterioration detection cycle proposed by the current common standards implemented in American Society of Testing Materials: ASTM D6400 Specification for Composting Plastics can be shortened from 1 year to 1 month. The standard system for catalytic degradation of plastics provides detection methods for polyolefin-based catalytic degradation materials (microplastics), and solves the problems of long detection cycle and poor detection efficiency. Thus, this method has promise for use as a relevant standard method for accurately providing a reference for the assessment.

Automated summary

In this paper, the concept of bioassimilated carbon is proposed to accurately determine polyolefin-based degradable plastics. A method for detecting the carbonyl index and bioassimilated carbon conversion rate in polyolefin degradable plastics is developed to quickly identify its degradation performance. The detection cycle of plastic deterioration can be shortened from 1 year to 1 month, and this method has the potential to be a relevant standard method for accurately assessing plastic degradation.