This item is in: Materials > Polymers and biopolymers

Biodegradable polymers for industrial applications

Edited by R Smith, Queen Mary University, London, UK

…will be of value to every scientist or technician working in polymer chemistry, materials engineering, or applied biology.
International Microbiology

 - reviews the importance and industrial use of biodegradable polymers and degradable polymers from sustainable sources
 - an invaluable resource for both academics and industry
 - edited by a leading authority in the field with contributions from a worldwide team of experts

The vast majority of plastic products are made from petroleum-based synthetic polymers that do not degrade in a landfill or in a compost-like environment. Therefore, the disposal of these products poses a serious environmental problem. An environmentally-conscious alternative is to design/synthesize polymers that are biodegradable.

Biodegradable polymers for industrial applications introduces the subject by outlining the classification and development of biodegradable polymers. Materials available for the production of biodegradable polymers are explored. Polymers derived from sugars, natural fibres, renewable forest resources, poly(lactic acid) and protein-nanoparticle composites are looked at in detail in this section. The properties and mechanisms of degradation are looked at, prefacing the subject with a chapter on current standards. The final part explores opportunities for industrial applications, with chapters on packing, agriculture and biodegradable polycaprolactone foams in supercritical carbon dioxide.

Biodegradable polymers for industrial applications explores the fundamental concepts concerning the development of biodegradable polymers, degradable polymers from sustainable sources, degradation and properties and industrial applications. It is an authoritative book that will be invaluable for academics, researchers and policy makers in the industry.

ISBN 1 85573 934 8
ISBN-13: 978 1 85573 934 5
May 2005
552 pages  234 x 156mm  hardback  
£160.00 / US$270.00 / €200.00

Usually dispatched within 24 hours

About the editor

Dr Ray Smith is a senior lecturer in the Materials Department at Queen Mary University of London.

Contents

PART 1 CLASSIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT
PART 2 MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS
PART 3 PROPERTIES AND MECHANISMS OF DEGRADATION
PART 4 INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

Introduction
R Smith, Queen Mary University, London, UK

PART 1 CLASSIFICATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Classification of biodegradable polymers
A Clarinval and J Halleux, CRIF Belgium
 - Introduction
 - Biopolymers from natural origin
 - Biopolymers from mineral origin
 - Conclusions
 - References

Polyhydroxyalkanoates
G-Q Chen, Tsinghua University, China
 - Introduction
 - Mechanical and thermal properties of PHA
 - Process development and scale up for microbial PHA production
 - Applications of PHA
 - Future developments
 - References

Oxo-biodegradable polyolefins
D M Wiles, Plastichem Consulting, Canada
 - Introduction
 - Polyolefin peroxidation
 - Control of polyolefin lifetimes
 - Oxidative degradation after use
 - Aerobic biodegradation
 - Applications of oxo-biodegradable polyolefins
 - Environmental impact
 - Future developments
 - References

New developments in the synthesis of aliphatic polyesters by ring-opening polymerisation
R Jerome and P Lecomte, University of Liège, Belgium
 - Introduction
 - Synthesis of aliphatic polyesters by ring-opening polymerisation
 - Reactive extrusion
 - Supercritical carbon dioxide as a medium for the ring opening polymerisation of lactones and lactides and a processing-aid of aliphatic polyesters
 - Future developments
 - Acknowledgements
 - Bibliography

Biodegradable polyesteramides
P A M Lips and P J Dijkstra, University of Twente, The Netherlands
 - Introduction
 - Poly(ester amide)s synthesis
 - Polydepsipeptides
 - Concluding comments
 - Further information
 - References

Thermoplastic starch biodegradable polymers
P J Halley, The University of Queensland, Australia
 - Introduction
 - Properties of starch
 - Thermoplastic starch and their blends
 - Modified thermoplastic starch polymers
 - Commercial applications and products for thermoplastic starch polymers
 - Thermoplastic starch polymers – looking beyond traditional polymer applications
 - Future developments
 - Further information
 - Acknowledgements

PART 2 MATERIALS FOR PRODUCTION OF BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS

Biodegradable polymers from sugars
A J Varma, National Chemical Laboratory, India
 - Introduction
 - Biodegradable polymers obtained from monosaccharides and disaccharides
 - Biodegradable polymers obtained from synthetic polysaccharides
 - Biodegradable polymers obtained from natural polysaccharides
 - Future developments - “biodegradable” polymers obtained from hemicelluloses
 - References

Biodegradable polymer composites from natural fibres
D Plackett, Danish Polymer Centre, Risø National Laboratory, Denmark
 - Introduction
 - Natural fibres as polymer reinforcement
 - Natural fibre-polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) composites
 - Natural fibre-polylactide (PLA) composites
 - Natural fibre-starch composites
 - Natural fibre-soy resin composites
 - Natural fibres in combination with synthetic biodegradable polymers
 - Commercial developments
 - Conclusion
 - Further information
 - References

Biodegradable polymers from renewable forest resources
T M Keenan, S W Tanenbaum and J P Nakas, College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse, USA
 - Lignocellulosic biomass as a renewable and value-added feedstock for biodegradable polymer production
 - Cellulose: as a platform substrate for degradable polymer synthesis
 - Hemicellulose and its application as a feedstock for biodegradable polymers
 - Sources of further information
 - Conclusions and future developments
 - References

Poly(lactic acid) based bioplastics
J Zhang and X Sun, Kansas State University, USA
 - Introduction
 - Properties of PLA
 - Blends of PLA
 - Plasticization of PLA-based bioplastics
 - Aging and biodegradation
 - Applications of PLA based bioplastics
 - References

Biodegradable protein-nanoparticle composites
K Dean and L Yu, CSIRO-Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology, Australia
 - Introduction
 - Delaminating clay using ultrasonics
 - Processing protein-nanoparticle composites using extrusion
 - Microstructure and mechanical properties of protein-nanoparticle composites
 - Conclusion
 - References

PART 3 PROPERTIES AND MECHANISMS OF DEGRADATION

Standards for environmentally biodegradable plastics
G Scott, Aston University, UK
 - Why standards are necessary
 - Bio-based polymers
 - The post-use treatment of plastics for the recovery of value
 - Mechanisms of polymer biodegradation
 - Laboratory studies
 - The development of national and international standards for biodegradable plastics
 - Lessons from the past and future developments
 - Acknowledgments
 - References

Material properties of biodegradable polymers
M Bhattacharya, University of Minnesota, USA, R L Reis, V Correlo and Luciano Boesel, University of Minho, Portugal
 - Introduction
 - Biodegradation
 - Natural polymers
 - Microbial polyesters
 - Synthetic polyesters
 - Poly-lactic acid
 - Poly(glycolic) acid
 - Polycaprolactone
 - Poly(alkene succinate)
 - Aliphatic-Aromatic Copolyesters
 - Poly(orthoesters)
 - Polyanhydrides
 - Polycarbonates/Polyiminocarbonates
 - Blends
 - Water soluble polymers
 - Future developments
 - References

Mechanism of biodegradation
Shuichi Matsumura, Keio University, Japan
 - Introduction
 - Biodegradation mechanism: overview
 - Biodegradation mechanism of naturally occurring polymers
 - Biodegradation mechanism of polyesters
 - Biodegradation mechanism of polycarbonates and polyethers
 - Biodegradation mechanism of poly(vinyl alcohol)
 - Biodegradation mechanism of polyurethanes
 - Biodegradation mechanism of poly(amino acid)
 - Biodegradation mechanism of miscellaneous polymers
 - Future trends
 - Bibliography

Enzymatic degradation of polymers
G Madras, Indian Institute of Science, India
 - Introduction
 - Vinyl polymers
 - Hydrolyzable polymers
 - Natural biodegradable Polymers
 - Conclusion
 - References

PART 4 INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

Oxo-biodegradable polyolefins in packaging
D M Wiles, Plastichem Consulting, Canada
 - Introduction
 - Characteristics of packaging plastics
 - Oxo-biodegradable polyolefins
 - Disposal
 - Recovery
 - Environmental impact
 - References

Biodegradable plastics in agriculture
G Scott, Aston University, UK
 - Plasticulture
 - Oxo-biodegradation of polyolefins in the environment
 - The impact of degradable plastics on the environment
 - Future developments
 - Acknowledgements
 - References

Generation of biodegradable polycaprolactone foams in supercritical carbon dioxide
L Yu and K Dean, CSIRO-Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology, Australia, and Q Xu, Zhengzhou University, China
 - Introduction
 - Generation of polycaprolactone foams
 - Effect of processing conditions on the foaming cell
 - Crystallinity of foamed polycaprolactone
 - Conclusion
 - References

Biodegradable polymers in agricultural applications
S Guilbert, INRA, P Feuilloley, CEMAGREF - UMR ITAP, and V Bellon-Maurel, Agro.M - CIRAD, France
 - Introduction
 - Materials applied in agriculture
 - Evaluating properties of biodegradable materials in agriculture
 - Market issues
 - Conclusion
 - Further information
 - References