--%>
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 : Problem on solutions The 2N aqueous

    The 2N aqueous solution of H2S04 contains: (a) 49 gm of H2S04 per litre of solution (b) 4.9 gm of H2S04 per litre of solution (c) 98 gm of H2S04

    		•
  • Q : Cations Chromium(III) hydroxide is

    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 support your answer

    		•
  • Q : What are emulsions?Describe its

    Emulsions are colloidal solutions in which disperse phase as well as dispersion medium is both liquids. Emulsions can be broadly classified into two types: (i) Oil in water (O/W type) emulsions: in this type of emulsions, oil acts disperse phase and water acts

    		•
  • Q : Question based on vapour pressure and

    Benzene and toluene form nearly ideal solutions. At 20°C, the vapour pressure of benzene is 75 torr and that of toluene is 22 torr. The parial vapour pressure of benzene at 20°C for a solution containing 78g of benzene and 46g of toluene in torr is: (a) 50 (b)

    		•
  • Q : Dipole moment of chloro-octane Describe

    Describe the dipole moment of chloro-octane in brief?

    		•
  • Q : What are the chemical properties of

    Haloalkanes are extremely reactive category of aliphatic compounds. Their reactivity is due to the presence of polar carbon-halogen bond in their mole

    		•
  • Q : Explain equilibrium and molecular

    The equilibrium constant can be treated as a particular type of molecular distribution. Consider the simplest gas-phase reaction, one in which molecules of A are converted to molecules of B. the reaction, described by the equation

    Q : Simulate the column in HYSYS The

    The objective of this work is to separate a binary mixture and to cool down the bottom product for storage. (Check table below to see which mixture you are asked to study). 100 kmol of feed containing 10 mol percent of the lighter component enters a continuous distillation column at the m

    		•
  • Q : Amount of glucose in blood What is the

    What is the normal amount of glucose in 100ml of blood (8–12 hrs after meal) is: (i) 8mg (ii) 80mg (iii) 200mg (iv) 800mg Choose the right answer from above.

    		•
  • Q : Calculating amount of Sodium hydroxide

    Choose the right answer from following. The amount of NaOH in gms in 250cm3 of a0.100M NaOH solution would be : (a) 4 gm (b) 2 gm (c) 1 gm (d) 2.5 gm

    		•