Opportunities for Biodegradable Water-Soluble Polymers

Water-soluble polymers, after use, are usually in very dilute aqueous solutions and are preferably disposed of through wastewater treatment facilities or sometimes directly into the aquatic environment, as shown schematically. On entering a wastewater treatment plant, a polymer may pass sfraight through, remaining soluble, into streams, rivers, lakes, and other aquatic environments, or it may be adsorbed onto the suspended solids in the freatment plant. If it 

A major difference in the waste management of water-soluble polymers and plastics using biodegradable substitutes is that there is a well-established widely available disposal infrastructure of wastewater treatment plants for the former, whereas plastics being developed for composting will require the large-scale implementation of a composting infrastructure and this will slow their acceptance. 

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