Special Issue "Biodegradability of Materials"
QuicklinksA special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2009)
Special Issue Editors
Guest Editor
Prof. Dr. Vladimir P. Torchilin
Center for Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Nanomedicine, Northeastern University, Mugar Building, Room 312, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Website: http://www.pharmsci.neu.edu/faculty/torchilin.html
E-Mail:
Editorial Advisor
Dr. Naozumi Teramoto
Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Chiba Institute of Technology 2-17-1, Tsudanuma, Narashino, Chiba 275-0016, Japan
E-Mail:
Interests: biomaterial; bio-based polymer; bioplastics; biodegradable polymer; biopolymer; composite material comprising a polymer matrix
Published Papers
Special Issue Information
To protect environment, the biodegradable materials have great advantage. However, sometimes, for material stability, biodegradation is a problem, for example, the biomedical materials.
Related Special Issues in other Journals
- Biodegradability of Materials in the Int. J. Mol. Sci.
- Biodegradability and Environmental Sciences in the Int. J. Environ. Res. Pub. Health
- Biodegradation: Organic, Medicinal and Analytical Chemistry in Molecules
Submission
All papers should be submitted to materials@mdpi.org. To be published continuously until the deadline and papers will be listed together at the special issue website.
Submitted papers should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere. All papers are refereed through a peer-review process. A guide for authors is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed quarterly journal published by Molecular Diversity Preservation International. Review manuscripts: Before writing their manuscripts, potential authors of review articles should forward the title and a short abstract to materials@mdpi.org. We will then provide feedback on the suitability of the topic.
Article Processing Charges (APC)
Article Processing Charges (APC) will be waived for well prepared manuscripts of invited papers. For the first two volumes of this new journal the APC are of 300 CHF (or 550 CHF per paper for those papers that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections).
Keywords
biodegradable polymers, organics or materials
Planned Papers
Type of Paper: Article
Title: Biodegradation of Compostable Plastics and Fragmentation of Oxodegradable Plastics in Aerobic Compost and Anaerobic Landfill Environments
Author: Joseph Greene
Affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering Mechatronic Engineering and Manufacturing Technology, California State University, Chico, California, 95929-0789, USA.
E-mail: jpgreene@csuchico.edu
Abstract: Biodegradable and oxodegradable plastics were exposed to aerobic composting and landfill environments. Samples of five compostable plastic products, along with oxodegradable, UV-degradable plastics, and positive controls were placed in a controlled warm and humid environment of 58°C for 45-days. The compostable plastics degraded at least 60% and met the degradation time requirement in the ASTM D-6400 standard. The oxodegradable plastics had negligible degradation. After 180 days in a commercial food-waste composting operation, the compostable materials completely degraded. The oxo-biodegradable plastic bags did not degrade or fragment. Very little biodegradation occurs in landfill environments due to its anaerobic nature. Biodegradable plastics, compostable plastics, and oxodegradable plastics should behave as other carbon-based materials and not biodegrade in landfill conditions.
Type of Paper: Article
Title: Phytoremediation of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds Using Immobilized Marine Microalgae - Hydroxylation, Reduction and Glycosylation of Bisphenol A and Benzophenone by Immobilized Chaetoceros
Author: Kei Shimoda
Affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, 1-1 Hasama-machi, Oita 879-5593, Japan.
Tel. +81-97-586-5606; Fax: +81-97-586-5619 (secretary);
E-mail: shimoda@med.oita-u.ac.jp
Abstract: Bisphenol A (BPA) and benzophenone (BZP) are used to manufacture polyacrylates, ether resins, phenol resins, photostabilizers, insecticides, fragrance ingredients, agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and coatings, and their residues are released as pollutants into rivers and seas. These compounds, i.e., BPA and BZP, have been recognized as "chemicals suspected of having endocrine disrupting effects". From the viewpoint of sea water pollution control, biodegradation of BPA and BZP by marine microalgae is of importance. The hydroxylation, reduction, and glycosylation of BPA and BZP by Chaetoceros sp. is reported here. Use of immobilized Chaetoceros improved the conversion yields of the products.
Type of Paper: Review
Title: Eco-challenges of Bio-based Polymer Composites
Author: Maurizio Avella
Affiliation: Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, National Research Council, ICTP-CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (NA), Italy.
Tel. +39 081 8675058; Fax: +39 081 8675230; E-mail: mave@ictp.cnr.it
Abstract: In the last years bio-based polymer composites are subject of many scientific and research projects, as well as many commercial programs. The growing global environmental and social concern, high rate of depletion of petroleum resources and new environmental regulations have forced the search for new composites and green materials, compatible with the environment. The aim of this article is to present a brief review of the most suitable and commonly used biodegradable polymer matrices and NF reinforcements coming from agriculture in eco-composites and nanocomposites with special attention on PLA based materials.
Abstract: Biodegradable materials are used in packaging, agriculture, medecine and other areas. In recent years there has been an increase in interest in biodegradable polymers. Two classes of biodegradable polymers can be distinguished : synthetic or natural polymers. There are polymers produced from feedstocks derived either from petroleum resources (non renewable resources) or from biological resources (renewable resources). In general natural polymers offer lower advantages than synthetic polymers. The following review presents an overview of the different biodegradable polymers that are currently being used and their properties as well as new developments in synthesis.
Type of Paper: Review
Title: Biodegradable Cellulose-based Hydrogels: Design and Applications
Authors: Alessandro Sannino *, Christian Demitri and Marta Madaghiele
Affiliation: Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni 73100 Lecce, Italy. E-mails: christian.demitri@unile.it; marta.madaghiele@unile.it
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-mail: alessandro.sannino@unile.it
Abstract: Hydrogels are macromolecular networks able to absorb and release water solutions in a reversible manner, in response to specific environmental stimuli. Such stimuli-sensitive behaviour has made hydrogels appealing for the design of ‘smart’ devices, that find application in a variety of technological fields. In particular, in cases where either ecological or biocompatibility issues are concerned, the biodegradability of the hydrogel network, together with the control of the degradation rate, may provide additional value to the developed device. This review surveys the design and the use of cellulose-based hydrogels, which are extensively investigated due to the large availability of cellulose in nature, the intrinsic degradability of cellulose and the smart behaviour displayed by some cellulose derivatives. The design of biodegradable cellulose-based hydrogels is discussed, as a function of the desired application.
Type of Paper: Review
Title: Surfactant-Mediated Biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Authors: Jing-Liang Li 1,* and Bing-Hung Chen 2,*
Affiliations: 1 Centre for Micro-Photonics, Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia.
2 Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Road, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed;
E-mails: li_jingl@alumni.nus.edu.sg; bhchen@alumni.rice.edu
Abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic environmental pollutants that are proven or suspected carcinogens or mutagens. Biodegradation has been used as a general method to eliminate them from contaminated sites or aquifers. However, biodegradation of PAHs is rather limited due to their low bioavailability because of their sparingly soluble nature. Surfactant-mediated biodegradation has been shown as a promising alternative. The presence of surfactant can increase the solubility of PAHs and hence increase their bioavailability potentially. However, both positive and negative effects of surfactant on the biodegradation of PAHs have been reported. In this report, surfactant-mediated biodegradation of PAHs is reviewed along with the research progress on surfactant-mediated biodegradation of PAHs and various mechanisms on surfactant-mediated biodegradation. Possible strategies to reduce the negative effects of surfactant are suggested as well.
Type of Paper: Review
Title: Anaerobic Biodegradation of Detergent Surfactants
Authors: Ute Merrettig-Bruns* and Erich Jelen
Affiliation: Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT, Osterfelder Str. 3, 46047 Oberhausen, Germany.
E-mails: ute.merrettig-bruns@umsicht.fraunhofer.de (F. L.); erich.jelen@ umsicht.fraunhofer.de (F. L.)
Abstract: Detergent surfactantsare found in wastewater in relevant concentrations. Most of them are known as ready degradable under aerobic conditions as required by European legislation. Much less surfactants have been tested for biodegradability under anaerobic conditions. The natural environment is predominantly aerobic, but there are some environmental compartments which have strictly anaerobic conditions such as river sediments, sub-surface soil layer and anaerobic sludge digesters of wastewater treatment plants. The review gives an overview on anaerobic biodegradation processes, the methods for testing anaerobic biodegradability, and the anaerobic biodegradability of different detergent surfactant types (anionic, nonionic, cationic, amphoteric surfactants).
Last update: 27 August 2009