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Related Concept Videos

Bioremediation00:46

Bioremediation

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Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
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Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters01:20

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The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
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...
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Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)00:53

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)

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Acyclic diene metathesis polymerization or ADMET polymerization involves cross-metathesis of terminal dienes, such as 1,8-nonadiene, to give linear unsaturated polymer and ethylene. As ADMET is a reversible process, the formed ethylene gas must be removed from the reaction mixture to complete the polymerization process.
Similar to cross-metathesis, ADMET also involves the formation of metallacyclobutane intermediate by [2+2] cycloaddition of one of the double bonds of a terminal diene with...
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Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:10

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Chain-growth or addition polymerization is successive addition reactions of monomers with a polymer chain. In radical chain-growth polymerization, the reaction proceeds via a free-radical intermediate. The free radical is formed from radical initiators, which spontaneously generate free radicals by homolytic fission. Organic peroxides (such as dibenzoyl peroxide, as shown in Figure 1) or azo compounds are popular radical initiators. A low concentration ratio of radical initiator to monomer is...
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Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:03

Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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Step-growth or condensation polymerization is a stepwise reaction of bi or multifunctional monomers to form long-chain polymers. As all the monomers are reactive, most of the monomers are consumed at the early stages of the reaction to form small chains of reactive oligomers, which then combine to form long polymer chains in the late stages. Hence, the reaction has to proceed for a long time to achieve high molecular weight polymers.
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
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Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes02:35

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

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The conversion of alkenes to macromolecules called polymers is a reaction of high commercial importance. The structure of the polymer is defined by a repeating unit, while the terminal groups are considered insignificant. The average degree of polymerization represents the number of repeating units in the polymer molecule and is denoted by the subscript n.
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Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
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Biodegradation: the best solution to the world problem of discarded polymers.

Jun Wu1,2, Jia Wang1, Yicheng Zeng1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China.

Bioresources and Bioprocessing
|August 7, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Polymer biodegradation using microorganisms, including single strains, multi-strain communities, and engineered enzymes, offers a sustainable solution to plastic waste. This review highlights biodegradation as the most effective method for managing polymer waste.

Keywords:
BiodegradationEnzyme engineeringMulti-strain degradationPolymersSingle-strain degradation

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Methods for Facilitating Microbial Growth on Pulp Mill Waste Streams and Characterization of the Biodegradation Potential of Cultured Microbes
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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Science
  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • The extensive use of polymers has led to a significant increase in polymer waste, posing environmental and health risks.
  • Conventional waste management methods like landfill and incineration have limitations, necessitating sustainable alternatives.
  • Biodegradation, utilizing microorganisms, is emerging as a promising eco-friendly approach to polymer decomposition.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current research landscape of polymer biodegradation.
  • To address challenges and propose solutions in polymer biodegradation.
  • To outline future research directions in managing polymer waste.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on polymer biodegradation.
  • Analysis of research on single bacterial strains for polymer degradation.
  • Assessment of multi-strain microbial communities in polymer biodegradation.
  • Evaluation of enzyme engineering (directed evolution and rational design) for enhanced polymer breakdown.

Main Results:

  • Single bacterial strains, multi-strain communities, and engineered enzymes are key players in polymer biodegradation.
  • Multi-strain communities are often undervalued but play a crucial role.
  • Biodegradation offers a more sustainable and effective alternative to traditional waste management.

Conclusions:

  • Biodegradation, encompassing single strains, microbial consortia, and enzyme technology, is the most effective strategy for polymer waste management.
  • Further research into multi-strain communities and enzyme optimization is crucial for advancing polymer biodegradation.
  • Developing practical solutions and exploring future directions will enhance the efficacy of biodegradation for a circular economy.