Fig. 3: Analysis of Poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA), Poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA), and Polypropylene (PP) melt-pressed film samples placed at the deep-sea floor (BHT).
From: Microbial decomposition of biodegradable plastics on the deep-sea floor
The degradability of a PBSA film, b PLLA film, and c PP film at the deep-sea floor. For PBSA film, microorganisms were observed on the film surface after 250 days of placement on the deep-sea floor off Hatsushima Island at 855 m (BHT08), and roughness on the film surface after biofilm removal, slight weight loss, and decrease in film thickness was also observed. For PLLA and PP, few microorganisms were observed on the film surface even after 8 months in BHT, and the film surface remained smooth after ultrasonic washing, with no observed weight loss or decrease in film thickness. Values are given as average of n = 4 for PBSA and PLLA, n = 2 for PP independent samples with its standard deviation (Supplementary Data 1). The micrographs are representative images from n = 3 independent samples with similar results. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
