Biodegradation of Synthetic Polymers

Broad interest in the possible biodegradation of synthetic polymers has developed only in recent years and primarily in response to the growing problem of the waste disposal of plastics. Essentially all biopolymers are susceptible to enzymatic degradation because the enzymatic polymerization reactions responsible for their synthesis in nature have closely related counterparts in nature for their enzymatic depolymerization what nature creates, nature can destroy . If it were not so, polymers could not be utilized as reserve materials and waste 

Nevertheless, a considerable amount of qualitative and semi-quantitative information has been accumulated in recent years to draw some conclusions on what the important factors are that affect the rate of degradation of synthetic polymers in a biological environment. These factors include [3, 21]  

In very few cases, however, has consideration been given to the types of products formed by biodegradation and to their effect on the environment. That is, are the products toxic to either microorganisms, animal life or humans Is the 

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On the other hand, knowledge concerning biodegradability of synthetic polymers bring us new information on design of polymer molecules which can be biodegradable by ecosystems. 

TOKIWAETAL. Biodegradation of Synthetic Polymers with Ester Bonds 143... 

Steinbuchel, A. 2003. Biopolymers, Miscellaneous Biopolymers and Biodegradation of Synthetic Polymers. Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. 

Scholz, C. and Gross, R. 2000. Polymers from Renewable Resources. ACS, Washington, DC. Steinbuchel, A. 2003. Biopolymers, Miscellaneous Biopolymers and Biodegradation of Synthetic Polymers. Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. 

Euheler JP, Bernhard M, Zok S, Knepper TN (2009) Environmental biodegradation of synthetic polymers I. Test methodologies and procedures. Trends Anal Chem 28 1057-1072... 

Potts JE, Clendinning RA, Ackart WB, Niegisch WD (1973) The biodegradability of synthetic polymers. In Guillet JE (ed) Polymers and ecological problems. Plenum, New York, p 61... 

Eggins HOW, Mills J, Holt A, Scott G (1971) Biodeterioration and biodegradation of synthetic polymers. In Sykes G, Skinner FA (eds) Microbial aspects of pollution. Academic Press, London, p 267... 

While microbial biodegradation of synthetic polymers once they have been disposed has important environmental implications, the action of... 

Andrady, A. L. (1994). Assessment of environmental biodegradation of synthetic-polymers. Journal of Macromolecular Science, 34, 25-76. 

Tokiwa, Y. Ando, T. Suziki, T. Takeda, K. Biodegradation of Synthetic Polymers Containing Ester Bonds in Agricultural and Synthetic Polymers, Biodegradability and Utilization Glass, J. E. Swift, G. (Eds.) ACS Symposium Series 433 ACS Washington, DC 1990. 

Albertsson A-C, Ranby B (1976) Biodegradation of synthetic polymers the C-14 method applied to polyethylenes. In Sharpley JM, Kaplan AM (eds) Proc 3rd Int Biodeg Symp. Apphed Science Publishers, London, p 743... 

Eubeler, J. R, Bernhard, M., Knepper, T. P. Environmental biodegradation of synthetic polymers 11. Biodegradation of different polymer groups. 7> C7ren Anal, em., 2010, 29, 84-100. 

Albertsson AC. Biodegradation of synthetic polymers. 2. Limited microbial conversation of C-14 in polyethylene to (CO-2)-C-14 by some soil fungi. J Appl Polym Sci 1978 22 3419-3433. 

St Pierre, T., Chiellini, E., 1987. Biodegradability of synthetic polymers for medical and pharmaceutical applications Part 2-Backbone hydrolysis. Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers 2, 4—30. 

J.P. Eubeler, M. Bernhard, and T.P. Knepper, Environmental biodegradation of synthetic polymers II. Biodegradation of different polymer groups, TrAC Trends Anal. Chem., 29 (1), 84-100, 2010. 

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