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Plastics Biodegradation and Biofragmentation

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Handbook of Biodegradable Materials

Abstract

Plastics are an important component of modern life. They are adaptable, lightweight, and inexpensive. Polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and other synthetic polymers have become indispensable in practically every aspect of our lives. One of the greatest environmental issues confronting governments and countries today is the generation of plastic trash and subsequent uncontrolled plastic contamination. Plastic degradation is complex, and throughout this process, substantial amounts of carbon dioxide and other hazardous substances are released. Bioplastics are often used interchangeably with biodegradation. Some bioplastics are biodegradable, but not all. The term “bio-based” refers to a polymer made in whole or in part from renewable organic materials of biological origin and organic waste, while the term “biodegradable” refers to the ability of a material to degrade into natural chemicals such as biomass, water, and carbon dioxide by the action of microorganisms. Accordingly, bioplastics are categorized into bio-based and biodegradable plastic. Biodegradable plastics are environmentally friendly, can be made from renewable feedstocks, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions from bioplastic degradation are relatively low, emphasizing the need for biodegradable plastic manufacture on a daily basis.

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Abbreviations

ASTM:

American society for testing and materials

Bio-PBS:

Bio-based polybutylene succinate

Bio-PE:

Bio-polyethylene

Bio-PET:

Bio-polyethylene terephthalate

Bio-PP:

Bio-based polyamides

Bio-PU:

Bio-polyurethane

Bio-PVC:

Bio-polyvinyl chloride

ISO:

International organization for standardization

LDPE:

Low-density polyethylene

PBAT:

Polybutylene adipate terephthalate

PBS:

Polybutylene succinate

PCL:

Polycaprolactone

PE:

Polyethylene

PHAs:

Polyhydroxyalkanoates

PHB:

Polyhydroxybutyrate

PLA:

Polylactic acid

PP:

Polypropylene

PS:

Polystyrene

PVA:

Polyvinyl alcohol

UV:

Ultraviolet

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Girls), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

    Nagwan Galal El Menofy

  2. Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

    Abdelrahman Mossad Khattab

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  1. Nagwan Galal El Menofy
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  2. Abdelrahman Mossad Khattab
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Correspondence to Nagwan Galal El Menofy .

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  1. Chemistry Department, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt

    Gomaa A. M. Ali

  2. Eng., Metallurgy, Coat. & Corr. Consult., Central Metallurgical R&D Institute (EMC3), Edinburg, TX, USA

    Abdel Salam H. Makhlouf

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El Menofy, N.G., Khattab, A.M. (2022). Plastics Biodegradation and Biofragmentation. In: Ali, G.A.M., Makhlouf, A.S.H. (eds) Handbook of Biodegradable Materials. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83783-9_22-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83783-9_22-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-83783-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-83783-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Chemistry and Mat. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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