Biodegradability of Conventional Plastics: Opportunities, Challenges, and Misconceptions brings together innovative research on the biodegradability of conventional plastics, providing an extensive overview of approaches and strategies that may be implemented, while also highlighting other methods for alleviating the eventual environmental impact of plastics. The book begins by providing a lifecycle assessment of plastics, the environmental impact of plastic waste, and the factors that affect the biodegradability of plastics. The different categories and terminologies surrounding bio-based plastics and biodegradable plastics are then defined and explained in detail, as are the issues surrounding bioplastics.
Other sections discuss biodegradability, approaches for enhanced biodegradability of various major types of plastics, including polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), automotive plastics and composites, and agricultural plastic waste. The final part of the book focuses on further techniques and emerging areas, including the utilization of chemical additives, nanomaterials, the role of microbes in terms of microbial degradation and microbial attaching, revalorization of plastic waste through industrial biotechnology, and future opportunities and challenges.
1. Biodegradability of Conventional Plastics - p. Page i 2. Cover - p. Page i 3. Front Matter - p. Page ii 4. Table of Contents - p. Page iii 5. Copyright - p. Page iv 6. List of contributors - p. Page iv 7. List of Illustrations - p. Page viii 8. List of Tables - p. Page ix 9. Chapter 1 : Life cycle assessment and environmental impact of plastic waste - p. Page ix 10. Chapter 2 : Composition, properties and other factors influencing plastics biodegradability - p. Page 13 11. Chapter 3 : Bioplastics, biodegradable plastics, and degradation in natural environments - p. Page 38 12. Chapter 4 : Bioplastics overview: are bioplastics the panacea for our environmental woes? - p. Page 63 13. Chapter 5 : Generation and impact of microplastics and nanoplastics from bioplastic sources - p. Page 79 14. Chapter 6 : Biodegradability of synthetic plastics: effective degradation mechanisms - p. Page 95 15. Chapter 7 : Biodegradability of polyolefins: Processes and procedures - p. Page 117 16. Chapter 8 : Biodegradability and current status of polyethylene terephthalate - p. Page 142 17. Chapter 9 : Biodegradability and bioremediation of polystyrene-based pollutants: An overview of biological degradation of polystyrene and modified polystyrene for future studies - p. Page 168 18. Chapter 10 : Biodegradability of Polyvinyl chloride - p. Page 195 19. Chapter 11 : Biodegradability of automotive plastics and composites - p. Page 214 20. Chapter 12 : Biodegradability of agricultural plastic waste - p. Page 238 21. Chapter 13 : Utilization of chemical additives to enhance biodegradability of plastics - p. Page 254 22. Chapter 14 : The role of nanomaterials in plastics biodegradability - p. Page 275 23. Chapter 15 : Microbial attachment studies on “plastic-specific” microorganisms - p. Page 302 24. Chapter 16 : Plastic waste to plastic value: Role of industrial biotechnology - p. Page 329 25. Chapter 17 : Future prospects for the biodegradability of conventional plastics - p. Page 354 26. Index - p. Page 369
Biodegradability of Conventional Plastics: Opportunities, Challenges, and Misconceptions brings together innovative research on the biodegradability of conventional plastics, providing an extensive overview of approaches and strategies that may be implemented, while also highlighting other methods for alleviating the eventual environmental impact of plastics. The book begins by providing a lifecycle assessment of plastics, the environmental impact of plastic waste, and the factors that affect the biodegradability of plastics. The different categories and terminologies surrounding bio-based plastics and biodegradable plastics are then defined and explained in detail, as are the issues surrounding bioplastics.
Other sections discuss biodegradability, approaches for enhanced biodegradability of various major types of plastics, including polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), automotive plastics and composites, and agricultural plastic waste. The final part of the book focuses on further techniques and emerging areas, including the utilization of chemical additives, nanomaterials, the role of microbes in terms of microbial degradation and microbial attaching, revalorization of plastic waste through industrial biotechnology, and future opportunities and challenges.
1. Biodegradability of Conventional Plastics - p. Page i 2. Cover - p. Page i 3. Front Matter - p. Page ii 4. Table of Contents - p. Page iii 5. Copyright - p. Page iv 6. List of contributors - p. Page iv 7. List of Illustrations - p. Page viii 8. List of Tables - p. Page ix 9. Chapter 1 : Life cycle assessment and environmental impact of plastic waste - p. Page ix 10. Chapter 2 : Composition, properties and other factors influencing plastics biodegradability - p. Page 13 11. Chapter 3 : Bioplastics, biodegradable plastics, and degradation in natural environments - p. Page 38 12. Chapter 4 : Bioplastics overview: are bioplastics the panacea for our environmental woes? - p. Page 63 13. Chapter 5 : Generation and impact of microplastics and nanoplastics from bioplastic sources - p. Page 79 14. Chapter 6 : Biodegradability of synthetic plastics: effective degradation mechanisms - p. Page 95 15. Chapter 7 : Biodegradability of polyolefins: Processes and procedures - p. Page 117 16. Chapter 8 : Biodegradability and current status of polyethylene terephthalate - p. Page 142 17. Chapter 9 : Biodegradability and bioremediation of polystyrene-based pollutants: An overview of biological degradation of polystyrene and modified polystyrene for future studies - p. Page 168 18. Chapter 10 : Biodegradability of Polyvinyl chloride - p. Page 195 19. Chapter 11 : Biodegradability of automotive plastics and composites - p. Page 214 20. Chapter 12 : Biodegradability of agricultural plastic waste - p. Page 238 21. Chapter 13 : Utilization of chemical additives to enhance biodegradability of plastics - p. Page 254 22. Chapter 14 : The role of nanomaterials in plastics biodegradability - p. Page 275 23. Chapter 15 : Microbial attachment studies on “plastic-specific” microorganisms - p. Page 302 24. Chapter 16 : Plastic waste to plastic value: Role of industrial biotechnology - p. Page 329 25. Chapter 17 : Future prospects for the biodegradability of conventional plastics - p. Page 354 26. Index - p. Page 369
