Environmental biodegradation

The ideal plant growth regulator should leave no harmful persistent residue in a finished product or crop and the paradigm compounds are ones that have high specific activity, are target specific, and are environmentally biodegradable. 

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... 

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

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) is an important member of biodegradable aliphatic polyester family. PBS and related copolymers have shown considerable promise for uses as environmentally biodegradable thermoplastics, as well as bioabsorbable/biocompatible medical materials (/). In both cases, practical applications require that the polymer possess a high molecular weight (M >20,000) so that it can have useful mechanical properties. 

Arnot J, Gouin T, Mackay D (2005) Practical methods for estimating environmental biodegradation rates. Canadian Environmental Modelling Network... 

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. 

Ikejuna, T. and Inoue, Y. (1999) CrystaUisadon behaviour and environmental biodegradability of the blend films of poly (3-hydroxybutyric acid) with chitin and cMtosan. Carbohydrate Polymers, 41,351-356. 

Scholz C, FuUer RC, Lenz RW (1994) Growth and polymer incorporation of Pseudomonas oleo-vorans on alkyl esters of heptanoic acid. Macromolecules 27 2886-2889 Scott G (1994) Environmental biodegradation of hydrocarbon polymers. In Doi Y, Fukuda K (eds) Biodegradable plastics and polymers. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 79-91 Scott G (1997) Abiotic control of polymer biodegradation. Trends Polym Sd 5 361-368 Scott G (1999) Biodegradable polymers. In Scott G (ed) Polymers and the environment. Royal Society of Chemistry, London, pp. 93-125 Scott G (2000) Green polymers. Polym Degrad Stab 68 1-7... 

PBS and its copolymers can be degraded in various environments, such as natural water, soil burial, activated sludge, and compost. The environmental biodegradation rate is sensitive to both the properties of the polyester and the environment, e.g., the microorganisms, nutrient, temperature, and humidity. Eor instance, Bionolle has different biodegradation rates in various enviromnents, as presented in Table 7 (Fujimaki 1998). Table 8 shows biodegradation properties of several aliphatic polyesters in different waters (Kasuya et al. 1998). It has been demonstrated that... 

Structures are also correlated with the environmental biodegradability of a molecule. Thus, in view of increasing environmental legislation [6], QSBR models play an important role in predicting the biodegradability of a molecule. 

The chapter concludes with some projections for fumre directions for research and commercial opportunities for environmentally biodegradable water-soluble polymers. 

Experimental data reported on biodegradation of polymers are somewhat limited. However, from a consideration of the available data and the characteristics of the biodegradation process, several factors that affect the environmental biodegradability of polymers might be identified. 

High molecular weight polyethylene is virtually nonbio-degradable. Being a commodity thermoplastic widely used in disposable packaging and consequently a very visible component of urban litter, there is interest in rendering the material environmentally biodegradable. 

Bonhomme S, Cuer A, Delort AM, Lemaire J, Sancelme M, Scott C. Environmental biodegradation of polyethylene. Polym Degrad Stab 2003 81 441-452. 

Swift G (2002) Environmentally biodegradable water-soluble polymers. In Scott, G. Degradable polymers - principles and applications, Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 379-412. 

---