Plastics have been playing an important role in our lives since many years. Some significant characters of these polymers such as lightweight and durability make them an attractive material and they are largely being used in number of applications e.g. packaging and electrical insulations. These ...
a consequence of the evolution of diverse esterases in response to the ubiquity of ester bonds found in nature6. In contrast, polyether polyols, most typically derived from petroleum, are used extensively in the current plastics industry because the ether bonds in the polymer are not susceptible t...
Biodegradable plastics are polymers that undergo more easily biodegradation by microorganisms and are generally broken down into smaller molecules, such as carbon dioxide and water, with minimal production of toxic compounds [5, 20]. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a synthetic, fossil-based polyester...
A number of microorganisms have the ability to degrade different types of plastic under suitable conditions, but due to the hardness of these polymers and their non-solubility in water, biological decomposition is a slow process. Natural plastics are made from plant and animal sources, or produced...
Widespread studies on the biodegradation of plastics have been carried out in order to overcome the environmental problems associated with synthetic plastic waste. Recent work has included studies of the distribution of synthetic polymer-degrading microorganisms in the environment, the isolation of new mic...
These materials have taken the place of wood, glass, and metal in several applications. Plastics, renowned for their durability, were once believed to be non-biodegradable unless subjected to certain treatments. However, the pretreatment of plastics is a complicated and energy-intensive procedure, ...
Plastics are a kind of utility product that has become part and parcel of one's life. Their continuous usage, accumulation, and contamination of soil and water pose a severe threat to the biotic and abiotic components of the environment. It not only increases the carbon footprints but also co...
The extensive production of conventional plastics and their use in different commercial applications poses a significant threat to both the fossil fuels sources and the environment. Alternatives called bioplastics evolved during development of renewable resources. Utilizing renewable resources like agricultural ...
The ability of lignin-degrading microorganisms to attack degradable plastics was investigated in pure shake flask culture studies. The degradable plastic used in this study was produced commercially by using the Archer-Daniels-Midland POLYCLEAN masterbatch and contained pro-oxidant and 6% starch. The kn...
which are limited in availability. This review provides an elaborate comparison of biodegradation rates of potential bioplastics in soil from various sources such as biomass, microorganisms, and monomers. These bioplastics show great potential as a replacement for conventional plastics due to their biodegr...