Pollution, biodegradable materials reducing

Natural attenuation by itself, however, often is not sufficient to achieve a desired extent or rate of contaminant removal from an aquifer. In these instances, one remedial option may be to enhance the natural rate of biodegradation of pollutant chemicals in the aquifer. This strategy, called in situ bioremediation, is considered to be one of the most attractive remedial techniques from a cost perspective, because many of the high costs associated with pumping and treating groundwater or excavating contaminated aquifer material are avoided. Furthermore, the potential exposure of cleanup workers to pollutant chemicals is reduced if many of the contaminants are mineralized while still in the aquifer. 

If methylation of antimony should occur during the biodegradation of discarded or poorly maintained consumer items protected with antimony compounds, the antimony could be transformed into a much more water-soluble form (MejSbO) which would allow leaching of the antimony, reducing the flame retardancy of the material and contributing to pollution of waterways . 

Starch has been one of the first materials extensively studied for its potential as polymer for biodegradable plastics. Impetus in this direction has come from shortage of municipal landfills and pressure to reduce the visual pollution caused by plastic residues abandoned in the landscape. Despite considerable interest from both the academic and industrial sectors, production of commercially viable materials has been delayed for technical and economic reasons. The former are inherent to the chemical structure of starch itself the vast quantity of internal hydrogen bonds hampers thermoplastic behaviour, and the hydrophilic nature of the polysaccharide translates into sensitivity to the environmental humidity that, in its turn, may affect the mechanical properties of the material. 

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