How biodegradable plastic bags can be degraded

　　At present, there is no unified definition of biodegradable plastic bags in the world, but the definition of biodegradable plastic bags is usually: plastic bags whose chemical organization changes significantly under specific environmental conditions, and whose material performance changes can be measured using standard test methods. The molecular chain of biodegradable plastic bags can be biodegradable in the garbage treatment system or natural environment, and microorganisms can biodegrade them, It eventually turns into carbon dioxide (or methane) and water, enters the biological combined cycle process, and is completely absorbed by the environment, leaving no polymer.

　　Most of the synthesized pure polymers have the ability to resist microbial attack. However, additives (such as plasticizers, smoothing agents, pigments and antioxidants) reduce this ability. Residual fatty acids of plasticizers, such as stearate, can be degraded by microorganisms and lead to the destruction of polymer surface, performance and even infrastructure. It has been known that the degradation of natural polymers by microorganisms is accomplished through the biosynthesis of enzyme proteins. These enzyme proteins can be located on the cell wall or in the protoplasm structure of the cell. Some enzymes can sneak into the surrounding environment, while others remain in the cell and are released only when the cell is dissolved or mechanically broken. Enzymes have only a highly specific catalytic capacity for biochemical reactions, which can be carried out rapidly under suitable physiological conditions.

　　There are two degradation methods for biodegradable plastic bags, which can be divided into: (1) biophysical degradation method: when microorganisms attack and erode polymer materials, polymer components will be hydrolyzed, ionized or protonated due to the growth of biological cells to split into oligomer fragments, and the polymer molecular structure will remain unchanged, which is a degradation process caused by biophysical effects of polymers. (2) Biochemical degradation method: due to the direct action of microorganisms or enzymes, the polymer is decomposed or oxidized into small molecules until it is finally decomposed into carbon dioxide and water, which belongs to the biochemical degradation method.

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