Reliable methodology to determine biotransformation of PBAT in anaerobic conditions

Alba Trueba-Santiso; Reinhard Wimmer; Mathias Eskildsen; Juan Cubero-Cardoso; Juan M Lema; Jeppe Lund Nielsen

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132242

Reliable methodology to determine biotransformation of PBAT in anaerobic conditions

Alba Trueba-Santiso, Reinhard Wimmer, Mathias Eskildsen, Juan Cubero-Cardoso, Juan M Lema, Jeppe Lund Nielsen^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

Biodegradable plastics can enhance food waste utilization in anaerobic digestion (AD) units, but their fate under thermophilic conditions remains unclear. Previous studies using methane production, calorimetry, or spectroscopic analyses often report inconsistent results. This study tracks the biotransformation of polybutylene adipate co-terephthalate (PBAT) in thermophilic AD (55 °C) using 1H NMR to quantify monomers. While 1,4-butanediol degraded quickly, adipic (AA) and terephthalic acid (TPA) accumulated over time. Monomer analysis estimated PBAT biotransformation at 11.1 ± 1.9 % (TPA) and 10.1 ± 2.3 % (AA). The core microbial community remained stable, indicating intrinsic hydrolytic capacities, which were stable despite TPA and AA accumulation. This workflow provides a robust methodology to evaluate the biotransformation of plastics.

Original language	English
Article number	132242
Journal	Bioresource Technology
Volume	424
Number of pages	8
ISSN	0960-8524
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132242
Publication status	Published - May 2025

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Anaerobic digestion
H NMR
Metagenomics
PBAT
Plastic
Thermophilic

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title = "Reliable methodology to determine biotransformation of PBAT in anaerobic conditions",

abstract = "Biodegradable plastics can enhance food waste utilization in anaerobic digestion (AD) units, but their fate under thermophilic conditions remains unclear. Previous studies using methane production, calorimetry, or spectroscopic analyses often report inconsistent results. This study tracks the biotransformation of polybutylene adipate co-terephthalate (PBAT) in thermophilic AD (55 °C) using 1H NMR to quantify monomers. While 1,4-butanediol degraded quickly, adipic (AA) and terephthalic acid (TPA) accumulated over time. Monomer analysis estimated PBAT biotransformation at 11.1 ± 1.9 % (TPA) and 10.1 ± 2.3 % (AA). The core microbial community remained stable, indicating intrinsic hydrolytic capacities, which were stable despite TPA and AA accumulation. This workflow provides a robust methodology to evaluate the biotransformation of plastics. ",

keywords = "Anaerobic digestion, H NMR, Metagenomics, PBAT, Plastic, Thermophilic",

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T1 - Reliable methodology to determine biotransformation of PBAT in anaerobic conditions

AU - Trueba-Santiso, Alba

AU - Wimmer, Reinhard

AU - Eskildsen, Mathias

AU - Cubero-Cardoso, Juan

AU - Lema, Juan M

AU - Nielsen, Jeppe Lund

PY - 2025/5

Y1 - 2025/5

N2 - Biodegradable plastics can enhance food waste utilization in anaerobic digestion (AD) units, but their fate under thermophilic conditions remains unclear. Previous studies using methane production, calorimetry, or spectroscopic analyses often report inconsistent results. This study tracks the biotransformation of polybutylene adipate co-terephthalate (PBAT) in thermophilic AD (55 °C) using 1H NMR to quantify monomers. While 1,4-butanediol degraded quickly, adipic (AA) and terephthalic acid (TPA) accumulated over time. Monomer analysis estimated PBAT biotransformation at 11.1 ± 1.9 % (TPA) and 10.1 ± 2.3 % (AA). The core microbial community remained stable, indicating intrinsic hydrolytic capacities, which were stable despite TPA and AA accumulation. This workflow provides a robust methodology to evaluate the biotransformation of plastics.

AB - Biodegradable plastics can enhance food waste utilization in anaerobic digestion (AD) units, but their fate under thermophilic conditions remains unclear. Previous studies using methane production, calorimetry, or spectroscopic analyses often report inconsistent results. This study tracks the biotransformation of polybutylene adipate co-terephthalate (PBAT) in thermophilic AD (55 °C) using 1H NMR to quantify monomers. While 1,4-butanediol degraded quickly, adipic (AA) and terephthalic acid (TPA) accumulated over time. Monomer analysis estimated PBAT biotransformation at 11.1 ± 1.9 % (TPA) and 10.1 ± 2.3 % (AA). The core microbial community remained stable, indicating intrinsic hydrolytic capacities, which were stable despite TPA and AA accumulation. This workflow provides a robust methodology to evaluate the biotransformation of plastics.

KW - Anaerobic digestion

KW - H NMR

KW - Metagenomics

KW - PBAT

KW - Plastic

KW - Thermophilic

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DO - 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132242

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SN - 0960-8524

VL - 424

JO - Bioresource Technology

JF - Bioresource Technology

M1 - 132242

ER -

Reliable methodology to determine biotransformation of PBAT in anaerobic conditions

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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