Peroxidised polyolefins biodegradation

Table 4. Time-scale for biodegradation of peroxidised polyolefins...

As with the poly (dienes), the polyolefins peroxidise to biodegradable products through the intermediate unstable hydroperoxides. Scheme 3 illustrates this process for poly(ethene), (PE). Poly(propene) (PP) peroxidises much more rapidly than PE due to the tertiary carbon atom (Scheme 2) and the higher proportion of vicinal hydroperoxides formed [6,9]. In-chain hydroperoxide formation continues steadily in all the polyolefins provided oxygen is available and the rate of biodegradation correlates with the rate of abiotic peroxidation. 

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