• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2015

Sustainable and eco-friendly polymers, natural polymers, bio-based polymers, and degradable polyesters, are of growing interest because of environmental concerns associated with waste plastics and emissions of carbon dioxide from preparation of petroleum-based polymers. Degradable polymers, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC), and poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA), are related to reduction of carbon dioxide in processing. To improve a weak mechanical property of a degradable polymer, a blending method is widely used. This study was forced on the component separation of degradable polymer blends for effective recycling. The melt-mixed blend films in a specific solvent were separated by two layers. Each layer was analysed by FT-IR, DSC, and contact angle measurements. The results showed that each component in the PPC/PLLA and PPC/PBAT blends was successfully separated by a solvent.

• Polymer Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 1994

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2008

There are increasing public concerns that the disposal of most synthetic carbon-based plastics is a great threat to the environment. These have led to intensive research and development of degradable plastics, such as biodegradable plastics, photodegradable plastics, and multi-degradable plastics. Although these degradable plastics may not completely replace common synthetic plastics, these minimize environmental impacts caused by non degradable plastics. Photodegradable plastics are synthetic polymers into which have been incorporated copolymers or light-sensitive additives to weaken the structural bonds in polymer chains when exposed to UV radiation. A better understanding of photodegradable plastics, which also play an important role in the degradation of multi-degradable plastics, will expand the usage of degradable plastics. The aim of present article is to review the formation, degradation mechanism and properties of photodegradable plastics.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.784-788
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• 1999

The effects of pH, moisture content, and the relative amount of a polymer sample on the biodegradation of degradable polymers in soil were studied using various polymer materials such as cellulose, poly-(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (SG) polycaprolactone (PCL), a blend of PCL and starch (PCL-starch), and a poly-lactic acid (PLA). As with other materials, the polymers degraded faster at a neutral pH than at either acidic or basic conditions. Moisture contents of 60 and 100% water holding capacity exhibited a similar biodegradability for various polymers, although the effects differed depending on the polymer. For synthetic polymers, biodegradation was faster at 60%, while the natural polymer (cellulose) degraded faster at 100%. Fungal hypae was observed at a 60% water holding capacity which may have affected the biodegradation of the polymers. A polymer amount of 0.25% to soil revealed the highest biodegradability among the ratios of 0.25, 0.5, and 1%. With a higher sample amount, the residual polymer could be recovered after the biodegradation test. It was confirmed that a test for general biodegradation condition can be applied to plastic biodegradation in soil.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.19 no.spc
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• pp.119-122
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• 2011

Among the developed bio-degradable polymer films as compared with transparent film(White), black polymer film was significantly more effective for controlling weeds in red pepper. Also, we found that white and black polymer mulching had 81.8% and 97.9% of managing weed controlling effects in rice, respectively. Compared to non-mulched rice paddy with water supply, the non-mulched rice paddy without any water supply has stopped its growth at 41 days after transplanting, while polymer-mulched rice paddy without water supply had about 60% of normally growing rice plants. This shows the polymer treatment has a remarkable effect on water and power saving, solution of herbicidal resistance, avoidance of herbicidal influence to eco-system etc. When the naturally decomposing polymer was used, a temperature was elevated as high as $4.7^{\circ}C$ on maximum and $2.6^{\circ}C$ on average. Also the naturally decomposing polymer accelerated rooting by 7 days and lowered a stress level from transplanting. The weed control effect mulched by polymer was remarkable as 98.7%. The polymer now, after 294 days treated on the rice paddy, has been completely decomposed.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.128-131
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• 2003

Triblock copolymers of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) middle block and degradable polyester end blocks were synthesized by the ring open polymerization initialed by alcohol groups of PDMS. Surface composition of the triblock copolymers is measured by angle-dependent electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. The PDMS blocks are segregated in the topmost surface region and constituted up to 90 mol% of the surface, even though the overall bulk PDMS concentrations of the block copolymers is 6% or less. This result suggests that the bulk property of degradable polyesters is essentially unchanged due to the high surface segregation of PDMS.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.121-122
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• 2006

Paralleled with the development of new materials we need to develop methods and techniques to reveal the environmental interaction and impact of the new materials. Small changes in the chemical structure or product formulation may render the product less environmentally adaptable. Degradation products formed from PLLA were identified after aging in different environments and their assimilation in the biotic environment was shown. Green and degradable hydrogels could be designed from renewable hemicelluloses and lactic acid. Hemicelluloses are a renewable and highly interesting raw material source for new green polymers.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.464-468
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• 1999

The effectiveness of current biodegradation test methods for degradable polymers under controlled composting conditions was studied in regards to the test temperature and compost condition. When biodegradability tests for the natural (starch, cellulose, PHB/HV) and synthetic (PCL, SG, PLA) polymers were conducted at temperature levels of 35 and $55^{\circ}C$ with compost cured at ambient temperature, the degradations of cellulose and starch were higher at $35^{\circ}C$ because of the priming effect. On the other hand, degradations of other polymers were higher at $55^{\circ}C$. In the biodegradation test at $55^{\circ}C$, compost harvested right after the thermophilic degradation stage showed higher biodegradation activities than the cured compost for both the synthetic aliphatic polyester (SG) and a natural polymer, cellulose. These results suggest that the biodegradation test conducted at $55^{\circ}C$ with the compost, harvested right after the thermophilic degradation stage during composting, showed the highest biodegradation activity under controlled composting conditions.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1161-1167
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• 2010

The effects of addition of non degradable polymers, polystyrene (PS) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) on the rate of enzymatic degradation of biodegradable poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) have been studied in term of surface structure. Since a component in multicomponent polymeric system has shown surface enrichment, PS and PMMA which have lower surface energy than PLLA were selected as a minor blend component (5 wt%). Enzymatic degradation was carried out at $37^{\circ}C$ and pH 8.5 in the aqueous solution of Proteinase K. Two blend systems, partially miscible (PS/PLLA) and immiscible (PMMA/PLLA), showed the surface enrichment of 4 and 2 times of PS and PMMA, respectively. From the weight loss profile data, the slow degradation rate of both blend films was observed. This indicates that PS or PMMA domains which exist at surface act as a retardant of enzymatic attack.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.251-257
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• 2000

District heating and cooling systems offer highly efficient energy utilization and maintenance by centralizing heat management. More pumping power, however, is required because the water has to travel long distance from heat source to the users. In the present study, a trace of drag reduction additives is added to the District Cooling system to achieve a significant drag reduction and save pumping power. Water-soluble polymers, surfactants, and environment-friendly degradable polymers are used as effective drag reducing additives. Time dependent percent drag reductions are compared for various additive solutions at 100 wppm concentration for different water velocity. Without as an anionic surfactant, copolymer was most effective in percent drag reduction. It is found that there exists an optimal condition when copolymer is mixed with SDS. An environment-friendly degradable polymer, xanthan gum, is found to be a significant drag reduction additive. Ice slurry systems, can give less pressure drops compared with chilled water system for certain condtions. Drag reduction additives were also effective for the ice slurry system.