Search results for "Bioplastics"
showing 5 items of 5 documents
Microbes and Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Marine Environment
2020
Marine pollution has increased reaching the entire marine environment, from the surface to the deepest sediment, and has become more concerning in the last 70 years. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a fraction of ocean waste that includes, among the others, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and plastic polymers. These chemicals have an extremely long half-life, and (bio)accumulate and damage the marine flora and fauna, and, ultimately, human health. Some organisms have evolved enzymes to attack POPs in the environment and transform them into biomass and CO2. Several microorganisms degrade many POPs in relatively short time. A wide variety of bacteria has been isolated with dif…
Influence of photo-oxidation on the performance and soil degradation of oxo- and biodegradable polymer-based items for agricultural applications
2021
Abstract The examination of the aging behavior of polymers, blends, composites, items, etc. under different environmental conditions is a priority issue for assessing the possible applications and establishing the lifetime. In agriculture, plastic items (mulch films, irrigation tubes, etc.) are widely used and subjected to solar UV exposure that can induce photo-oxidation on macromolecular chains. Therefore, weathering under outdoor conditions and accelerated degradation tests are performed for simulating aging processes during the lifetime of materials and select appropriate stabilizers to be used. In the last decades, oxo- and biodegradable polymers have been investigated and used in agri…
Impact of nanoparticles on the environmental sustainability of polymer nanocomposites based on bioplastics or recycled plastics – A review of life-cy…
2022
Adding nanoparticles to a host polymer can lead to performance improvements that can be twice as beneficial to the environment: first, sustainable nanocomposites based on bioplastics or recycled plastics could replace ubiquitous petroleum-based polymers; second, substantial plastic saving could be achieved by profiting from the superior specific properties of the nanocomposites. Nevertheless, the inherent environmental burden of nanoparticles can compromise the expected benefits. Here we address the controversial issue of the environmental sustainability of “green” polymer nanocomposites based on bioplastics and recycled plastics. A critical review of life-cycle assessment studies regarding…
Opakowania z biotworzyw –przyszłość? Czy w przyszłości nowy problem środowiskowy?
2020
Problem odpadów opakowaniowych z tworzyw sztucznych wciąż wymaga poszukiwania skutecznych rozwiązań. W artykule przedstawiono wytyczne Komisji Europejskie z marca 2019 roku w zakresie działań ograniczających składowanie zużytych opakowań na wysypiskach śmieci. Najwięcej uwagi poświęcono biotworzywom, stosowanym w produkcji opakowań, które -zgodnie z zapewnieniami ich producentów –mogą być składowane z odpadami organicznymi i ulegać wraz z nimi procesom biodegradacji lub kompostowania. Dzięki temu ich stosowanie mogłaby istotnie wpłynąć na zmniejszenie ilości odpadów opakowaniowych odprowadzanych na składowiska śmieci, jak równieżprzyczynić się do nie zalegania ich wśrodowisku naturalnym tak…
RADIATION-CLEAVABLE MICROPARTICLE CHAPERONES FOR DURABILITY-CONTROLLED NANOCOMPOSITE BIOPLASTICS
2012
Polysaccharide micro/nanoparticles, incorporating stabilizers (natural antioxidants), prodegrading agents (such as enzymes or metal oxide nanoparticles) or other active ingredients, can be considered ideal chaperones to introduce various and heterogeneous substances into polysaccharide films in virtue of their structural affinity. The possibility of obtaining biodegradable and colloidally stable nanoparticles from xyloglucan has been here investigated. Xyloglucans are a major class of structural polysaccharides found in the primary cell walls of higher plants. They are particularly interesting raw materials for their excellent film forming properties, thermal stability and hydroxyl rich, hi…