Chemistry and Technology of Biodegradable Polymers

Biodegradable plastics were developed in response to the environmental problems of disposal caused by the very inertness and durability for which plastics themselves were designed. Recycling can never replace biodegradation due to recovery and hygiene problems. The basic tenet of this book is that biodegradation and recycling are compatible and equally essential. The international team of authors provides an authoritative and comprehensive summary of the detailed technical information available on the manufacture and use of biodgradable polymers, enabling users to assess appropriate materials and processing technologies for their particular requirements. Biodegradability has been achieved by reverting to entirely natural material such as cellulose, starch, proteins and gums, but there is a general problem with such material of sensitivity to water and early biological attack. Certain ester polymers generated by bacteria have proved more useful technically but are far too costly for widespread use in packaging. The modification of common thermo plastics by incorporating starch fillers and autoxidants has offered a useful compromise between costs and technology. This book should be of interest to polymer scientists, chemists, technologists and engineers in industry and academia; and environmental chemists in academia, industry and government institutions.