@ARTICLE{Borowski_Gabriel_Effect_2020, author={Borowski, Gabriel and Klepka, Tomasz and Pawłowska, Małgorzata and Lavagnolo, Maria Cristina and Oniszczuk, Tomasz and Wójtowicz, Agnieszka and Combrzyński, Maciej}, volume={vol. 46}, number={No 2}, pages={74-82}, journal={Archives of Environmental Protection}, howpublished={online}, year={2020}, publisher={Polish Academy of Sciences}, abstract={The research was intended to develop a biocomposite as an alternative biodegradable material, for the production of, e.g., disposable utensils. The author’s tested thermoplastic maize starch, both without additives and with the addition of crumbled fl ax fi ber in the share of 10, 20 and 30 wt%. The plasticizer added was technical glycerin and the samples were produced by a single-screw extruder. The mechanical strength tests were performed, including the impact tensile test and three-point bending fl exural test. Afterwards, the samples were tested for biodegradability under anaerobic conditions. The methane fermentation process was carried in a laboratory bioreactor under thermophilic conditions with constant mixing of the batch. All samples proved to be highly susceptible to biodegradation during the experiment, regardless of the fl ax fi ber share. The biogas potential was about 600 ml·g-1, and the methane concentration in biogas ranged from 66.8 to 69.6%. It was found, that the biocomposites can be almost completely utilized in bioreactors during the biodegradation process. The energy recovery in the decomposition process with the generation of signifi cant amount of methane constitutes an additional benefi t.}, type={Article}, title={Effect of flax fibers addition on the mechanical properties and biodegradability of biocomposites based on thermoplastic starch}, URL={http://czasopisma.pan.pl/Content/116624/PDF/Archives%2046%20no%202p74_82.pdf}, doi={10.24425/aep.2020.133477}, keywords={biocomposite, flax fiber, maize starch, extrusion-cooking, biodegradation, energy recovery}, }