Room: Poster Area
Date: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Time: 16:15 - 17:15 CEST
Session code 6CV.7
Biopolymers and bioplastics
Continuous High-Rate Co-Composting of Food Waste and Commercial Bioplastics (PLA and PHA) at Pilot Scale
Short Introductive summary
Bioplastics are alternatives to conventional plastics, but co-processing with food waste needs systematic evaluation. This study investigates PHA and PLA biodegradation during continuous, pilot-scale co-composting with food waste. A 14-day retention system assessed three scenarios: food waste alone, 6% w/w PHA, and 8% w/w PLA. Analyses included physicochemical monitoring, 16S rRNA sequencing, SEM, TGA, DSC, and FTIR. Results showed stable operation; C/N ratios decreased from 22 to 12. Bioplastics enhanced microbial diversity, with the PLA scenario increasing the Shannon index by 47%. Analyses confirmed significant physical degradation and reduced crystallinity for PHA (33%) and PLA (44%). The final compost was stable with excellent sanitary quality. Integrating bioplastics is feasible without harming compost quality, though incomplete degradation under rapid conditions requires further process optimization.
Presenter
Michael KORNAROS
University of Patras, Chemical Engineering Dpt., GREECE
Biographies and Short introductive summaries are supplied directly by presenters and are published here unedited
Co-authors:
M. GASPARI, Soil and Water Resources Institute (DIMITRA), Thermi, Thessaloniki, GREECE
V. Adamopoulou, University of Patras (ELKE), Patras, GREECE
M. KORNAROS, University of Patras (ELKE), Patras, GREECE
Session reference: 6CV.7.24