June 3, 2026 14:34

CNR-ISAFoM and the University of Milan have collaborated on the development of a new analytical protocol designed to identify plastics in compost accurately and at low cost, distinguishing them from biodegradable materials such as compostable polymers.

According to the Italian researchers, the novelty lies in the development of a selective thermal-alkaline hydrolysis procedure, which acts as an “analytical watershed”.

By subjecting samples of materials recovered from compost to a sodium hydroxide solution at 80 °C, compostable polymers are completely dissolved without affecting conventional plastics, which resist the chemical attack and can therefore be detected.

The study offers organic waste treatment plants an effective, low-cost methodology to certify compost quality and monitor the degradation of new polymer materials.

“The determination of plastic traces in compost has so far not made it possible to distinguish between conventional and compostable plastics, with the latter representing a legitimate component of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste,” explains Mirko Cucina, researcher at CNR-ISAFoM and author of the study together with Fabrizio Adani of the University of Milan. “In this context, the ability to accurately distinguish between recalcitrant fossil-based polymers and compostable plastics in compost is no longer just a technical issue, but a fundamental prerequisite for food safety and the sustainability of global supply chains.”

“This technology makes it possible to overcome the limitations of current methods, which are often too expensive or inaccurate for large-scale application, ensuring a recovery efficiency of 98% and precision validated by infrared spectroscopy,” adds Adani.

The analytical protocol is described in an article published in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering (HERE)

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