Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Investigatory Project
TITLE: Effect of the Different Types of Substrates on the Biodegradability of SM Plastic Bags
Official figures show that plastics make up around 25% of the garbage that metro
manila churns out, while an independent survey conducted by Ecowaste Coalition and
Greenpeace on the composition of discards on manila bay in 2006 found that 51% were
plastic bags, 19% sachets and junk food wrappers, 5% Styrofoam, 1% hard plastics, 10%
rubber, 13% biodegradable wastes (Cayetano, 2008;
www.senatorpiacayetano.com/psc/pressreleasedetails.php?recordID=175)
The SM mall chain has started shifting biodegradable plastic bags for its
supermarkets and department stores (Cayetano, 2008). The use of biodegradable
plastics help lessen the burden of the ever-growing garbage problem in the Philippines
and in the whole world
Will exposing the SM plastic bags to different substrates such as compost soil,
loam soil, tap water, and seawater over a period of time affect its biodegradability?
A. General Objective:
B. Specific Objectives:
1. To expose SM plastic bags to different substrates such as compost soil, loam soil,
seawater and tap water for a duration of several months.
2. To measure the weight of the plastic bags (grams) before and after different exposure
periods to the substrates.
3. To compare the percent weight loss of the SM plastic bags exposed to different
substrates after a period of time.
V. Design of the Study
A. Variables
B. Materials
C. Procedures
We cut the SM plastic bags into 3”x4”sizes strips. We labelled the plastic strips
into C1, C2, C3 for compost soil, L1, L2, L3 for loam soil, S1, S2, S3 for seawater, and
T1, T2, T3 for tap water treatments. We then determined the initial weights of the
plastic strips in grams using the analytical balance. The initial weights (W1) of the
plastic strips were then recorded in our log book.
Three aluminium trays (7”x9”) were labelled C1, C2 and C3. Five hundred grams
of compost soil were measured using a weighing scale and placed in each tray.
Another three aluminium trays (7”x9”) were labelled L1, L2, and L3. Five hundred
grams of loam soil were placed in 3 each tray.
One hundred mL of tap water were mixed with the soils. Plastic strips labelled
C1, C2 and C3 were placed in trays labelled C1,C2 and C3 containing compost soils.
Plastic strips L1, L2 and L3 were placed in trays L1, L2 and L3 containing loam soil.
Five hundred mL of seawater were placed each in three glass jars. The jars were
labelled S1, S2 and S3. In another three jars, 500mL of tap water were placed. The
jars were labelled T1, T2 and T3. Plastic strips labelled S1, S2 and S3 were placed in
jars containing seawater while plastic strips T1, T2 and T3 were placed in jars
containing tap water. The plastic were immersed in the different substrates last
September 9, 2008.
The set-ups were placed in the Biology laboratory room and were observed from
time to time. Physical observations of the plastic strips were made on the following
dates: September 24, 2008, October 6, 2008, and November 15, 2008.
Last November 15, 2008, the plastic strips were harvested from the different
substrates. They were washed with tap water and air dried for 48 hours. Physical
changes in each strip were noted and recorded. Pictures of the plastic strips were
also taken to observe changes before they were immersed in the different
substrates and after immersion for about two months. The dry weights in grams of
each plastic strip were measured using an analytical balance. Results were recorded
in the log book.
The plastic strips were again were submerged to the different substrates for
further observations.
Percent weight loss in each plastic strip was determined using the formula:
Percent weight loss= Initial weight (W1) – Final weight (W2) / Initial weight x 100
Plate 1. SM plastic strips (3”x4”) used in the experiment.
Plate 2. Measuring the initial weight of the SM plastic strips.
On September 24, 2008, 22 days after the plastics were submerged to the different
substrates, the plastic strips were harvested to observe any physical change. No physical
change was observed in any of the strips. On October 6, 2008, a month after the immersion, the
plastic strips were again observed. No physical change was seen in any of the plastic strips.
On November 8, 2008, 66 days after the plastic strips were immersed, they were
harvested, washed with tap water and air dried for 48 hours. This time, almost all the strips
showed physical changes such as the appearance of small holes, thinning in some portion, and
discoloration.
Plate 7. Thinning and discoloration observed in plastic strip immersed in loam soil for 68 days.
Plate 8. Thinning and tearing in some portions of the plastic strip submerged in seawater
for 68 days.
Plate 9. Discoloration observed in plastic strip submerged in compost soil for 68 days
Table 1. Percent weight loss in SM plastic strips exposed to different substrates after 68 days
exposure period.
Mean= 18.28
Mean= 8.70
Mean= 3.80
Mean= 19.74
Overall 12.63
mean=
Table 2: Qualitative observations on SM plastic strips exposed to different substrates after
several days duration of exposure.
Weight loss was observed after about two months exposure to different soil and water
medium. Percent weight loss ranged from 0.09% to 30.28%. Weight loss was higher in plastic
strips submerged in seawater and compost soil. This was followed by weight loss in plastic
strips submerged in loam soil. Weight loss was lowest for plastic strips submerged in tap water.
Mean weight loss for all was plastic strips was 12.63% (Table 1).
No physical changes were observed in all plastic strips on September 24, 2008, 16 days
after exposure to different substrates. Likewise, no physical changes were observed on the
plastic strips on October 26, 2008, after 28 days of exposure. On November 15, 2008, after 68
days of exposure to the different substrates, physical changes were observed in all plastic
strips. Some plastic strips have small holes. Other portions of the strips have thinned out, while
some showed discoloration (Table 2, Plates 7, 8, and 9).
Results showed that after about two months exposure to loam soil, compost soil,
seawater and tap water, the SM plastic strips manifested signs of degradation such as weight
loss, changes in physical appearance like tearing, thinning and discoloration. However, it is too
early to tell whether the degradation observed are due to physical and chemical factors such as
temperature, moisture, and enzymatic reactions, or these are due to the action of
microorganisms like bacteria (biodegradation).
After observing the physical changes and measuring the dry weight of the plastic strips,
these were again returned to the different treatment substrates for further observations.