Polyesters biodegradable water-soluble polymer

Degradability of other polyesters There are two main water-soluble polymer types commercially available polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH). PVOH is a readily biodegradable, water-soluble polymer. The degradation of PVOH is influenced by its crystallinity and molecular weight PVOH does not biodegrade, but simply dissolves in water or can be biodegraded by activated sludge treatment. EVOH is another water-soluble synthetic plastic. 

Keeping in mind the fact that practically all water-soluble polymers are inclined to form hydrogen bonds with polyesters and polyamides, it follows that it is hardly possible to convert the condensation polymers (to which most important biodegradable biocompatible polyesters belong. Figure 9.8) into nano-sized... 

Braud, C., Devarieux, R., Garreau, H. and Vert, M. (1996) Capillary electrophoresis to analyze water-soluble oUgo(hydroxyadds) issued from degraded or biodegraded aUphatic polyesters. Journal of Ertvi-ronmental Polymer Degradation, 4,135-148. 

Most synthetic polymers are not biodegradable. However, there are a few synthetic polymers which are truly biodegradable. Some are water-soluble and become biodegradable once dissolved. Others are insoluble in water. The major families are lactic acid-based polymers, polycapro-lactone, other synthetic polyesters, and polyvinyl alcohol. 

A. Breitenbach and T. Kissel, Biodegradable comb polyesters Part 1 synthesis, characterization and structural analysis of poly (lactide) and poly (lactide-co-glycolide) grafted onto water-soluble poly (vinylalcohol) as backbone. Polymer, 39(14), 3261-3271 (1998). 

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