Jules Bellon, a doctoral student in the ECLORE research unit, defended his thesis on Friday, November 14, at UniLaSalle Rouen:

“Home composting of biodegradable plastics: eco-design and increasing biodegradability.”

This thesis is part of research on biodegradable materials and their integration into a circular economy approach.

It explores different avenues for improving the degradation of biodegradable polymers in domestic composting conditions: formulation of biocomposites from agro-industrial co-products (orange peels, brewery spent grain), inoculation of bacterial strains, and addition of protein inducers to stimulate biodegradation.

This work contributes to a better understanding of the interactions between materials and microorganisms, and opens up prospects for a more sustainable eco-design of biodegradable plastics.

Thesis jury

• Prof. Alain Copinet, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne – Rapporteur
• Prof. Valérie Barbe, CEA-Genoscope – Rapporteur
• Prof. Sandra Domenek, AgroParisTech – Examiner
• Prof. Stéphane Marais, University of Rouen / INSA Rouen / CNRS – Examiner
• Dr. Lucile Chatellard, University of Montpellier – Examiner
• Dr. Fériel Bacoup, UniLaSalle Rouen – Supervisor
• Dr. Richard Gattin, UniLaSalle Rouen – Thesis Director