Biodegradable Plastics from Renewable Resources

Abstract

Natural biodegradable plastics are based primarily on renewable resources. Biodegredation is degradation caused by biological activity, particularly by enzyme action leading to significant changes in the material's chemical structure. The biodegradability of plastics is dependent on the chemical structure of the material. The biodegradation of plastics proceeds actively under different soil conditions according to their properties. Biodegradation of starch based polymers occurred between the sugar groups leading to a reduction in chain length and the splitting off of mono-, di-, and oligo-saccharide units by a result of enzymatic attack at the glucosidic linkages.

Keywords:

• biodegradable plastics
• biopolymer
• biowaste
• mechanisms
• renewable resources