--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

What are biodegradable polymers? Present some examples.

 

These are polymers that can be broken into small segments by enzyme-catalysed reactions. The required enzymes are produced by microorganism. It is a known fact that the carbon-carbon bonds of chain growth polymers are inert to enzyme-catalysed reactions, and hence they are non biodegradable. To make such polymers biodegradable we have to insert certain bonds in the chains so that these can be easily broken by the enzymes. Now when such polymers are buried as waste, microorganisms present in the ground can degrade the polymer.

One of the most excellent methods of making a polymer biodegradable is by introducing hydrolysable ester group into the polymer.

For example if acetal is added to an alkene undergoing radical polymerisation, ester group will be inserted into the polymer.

The weak links in the polymer are susceptible to enzyme catalysed hydrolysis.

Aliphatic polyesters are one of the significant categories of biodegradable polymers. Some other examples of biodegradable polymers are described below:

(i) PHBV (Poly-hydroxybutrate-co- 856_Biodegradable1.png-hydroxy valerate):  it is a copolymer of 3-hydroxy butyric acid and 3-hydroxypentanoic acid.
378_Biodegradable.png 


PHBV is used in orthopaedic devices and controlled drug release. The drug put in PHBV capsule is released after this polymer is degraded by enzymatic action. It can also be degraded by bacterial action.

(ii) Poly glycolic acid and poly lactic acid: these are also biodegradable polymers and are used for post operative stitches. These are bioabsorbable structures.

(iii) Nylon-2-Nylon: it is an alternating polyamide copolymer of glycine2233_Biodegradable3.png  and amino caproic acid1005_Biodegradable4.png and is biodegradable.

907_Biodegradable2.png

 

 

 

 

 

   Related Questions in Chemistry

  • Q : Inorganic Chemistry Inorganic

    Inorganic Chemistry:In the year 1869, Russian Chemist Dmitry Mendeleyev forms the periodic table of the element. Since Newlands did before him in the year 1863, Mendeleyev categorizes the el

    		•
  • Q : Mole fraction Give me answer of

    Give me answer of following question. The sum of the mole fraction of the components of a solution is : (a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) 4.

    		•
  • Q : Explain the molecular mass with respect

    During the formation of polymers, different macromolecules have different degree of polymerisation i.e. they have varied chain lengths. Thus, the molecular masses of the individual macromolecules in a particular sample of the polymer are different. Hence, an average value of the molecular mass is

    		•
  • Q : Gibberella fusarium in bioremediation

    in bioremediation gibberella fusarium is used to break down____?

    		•
  • Q : Problem on molarity-normality-molality

    Can someone please help me in getting through this problem. The solution ofAl2(SO4)3 d = 1.253gm/m comprise 22% salt by weight. The molarity, normality and molality of the solution is: (1) 0.805 M, 4.83 N, 0.825 M (2)

    		•
  • Q : Problem on physical and thermodynamic

    The shells of marine organisms contain calcium carbonate CaCO3, largely in a crystalline form known as calcite. There is a second crystalline form of calcium carbonate known as aragonite. Physical and thermodynamic properties of calcite and aragonite at 298

    		•
  • Q : What are lattices and unit cells? The

    The repeating, atomic level structure of a crystal can be represented by a lattice and by the repeating unit of the lattice, the unit cell.It was apparent very early in the study of crystals that the shapes of crystals stem from an ordered array of smaller

    		•
  • Q : What is covalent radii? Explain its

    Average covalent radii can be assigned on the basis of molecular structures. The accumulation of structural data by spectroscopic studies and both electron and x-ray diffraction studies allows one to investigate the possibili

    		•
  • Q : Hydroxide is highly insoluble in

     : 1) Chromium(III) hydroxide is highly insoluble in distilled water but dissolves readily in either acidic or basic solution. Briefly explain why the compound can dissolve in acidic or in basic but not in neutral solution. Write appropriate equations to

    		•
  • Q : Composition of the vapour Choose the

    Choose the right answer from following. An ideal solution was obtained by mixing methanol and ethanol. If the partial vapour pressure of methanol and ethanol are 2.619KPa and 4.556KPa respectively, the composition of the vapour (in terms of mole fraction) will be: (

    		•