Refining Biodegradability Assessments of Polymers Through Microbial Biomolecule Quantification.

ABSTRACT: The accumulation of plastic waste has intensified the pursuit of biodegradable alternatives, yet standard methods such as CO₂ evolution, oxygen demand, and mass loss fail to fully capture microbial physiological responses during degradation. This study introduces a biochemical assay-based approach to quantify proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates in soil as indicators of microbial activity during polymer biodegradation. For microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates increased by 2.09-, 6.47-, and 11.22-fold, respectively (all p-values < 0.001), closely aligning with CO₂ evolution trends. Non-biodegradable poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) exhibited no significant changes. Synthesized poly(butylene glutarate) (PBG) also showed significant biomo

SUBMITTER: Cho WY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12431410 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature