Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
Published on: May 10, 2013
Thermal degradation of eco-friendly alternative plastics: kinetics and thermodynamics analysis
Satyanarayan Patnaik1, Sachin Kumar2, Achyut K Panda3
1Department of Chemistry, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla, Odisha, India.
Abstract:
This work reports the thermal degradation behaviour, kinetics and thermodynamics of two different eco-friendly plastics, viz. non-woven plastic and corn starch-based biodegradable plastics, which are commonly used nowadays as an alternative to synthetic plastics. In this context, thermogravimetric analysis of plastic waste samples was carried out at wide range of heating rates of 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 °C/min in nitrogen atmosphere, and activation energy is determined by first-order model-fitting method while thermodynamic parameters are determined on the basis of Eyring theory of activated complex. The regression coefficient obtained from kinetic study of thermal degradation of these plastics best fits to the first-order kinetic equation. The kinetics and thermodynamic parameters obtained for both the plastics are found very close to each other. So, this study would help design more effective conversion system for the recycling of both the wastes together.
Related Concept Videos
Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the polymer...
Polymer Classification: Architecture
Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes
Plasticizers
Plasticizers function by using surface-active agents to create repulsive electrostatic forces between cement particles. This dispersion enhances the concrete's...
Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity
Polymer Classification: Crystallinity
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...

