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Review on Greener Chemistry in Polymer Science
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This review paper summarizes existing research on how the plastics industry can swap out toxic chemicals—like BPA and other harmful compounds found in everyday plastics—for safer, eco-friendly alternatives, while also tackling the growing problem of plastic and microplastic pollution. This matters because many chemicals used to make common plastics have been linked to health concerns, so finding safer substitutes could mean less exposure to harmful substances in the products we use daily and less plastic waste breaking down into microplastics in our food, water, and bodies. The paper also points out that "green" plastic-making methods still have real limitations that scientists need
Abstract: Climate change is one of the urgent global problems caused by human activities. The factors that significantly harm the environment are a substantial increase in carbon dioxide emissions, the rapid depletion of fossil fuels, and the loss of forest cover, as well as the generation and accumulation of toxic and non-degradable waste in the biosphere. To protect Mother Earth, twelve principles of Green Chemistry were developed by Anastas and Warner to mitigate the usage of hazardous chemicals, develop alternatives for traditional energy intensive processes, reduce fossil fuel dependent materials and greenhouse gas emissions, effective use of atoms and catalysts in the chemical reaction and expand the utilization of biomass and carbon dioxide as a feedstock and minimize the formation of bye products and waste generation and their prevention. All branches of Science are focusing their research towards Green Chemistry Principles. This review aims to look at Polymer Science from the angle of Green Chemistry Principles. Various polymerization techniques and their correlation to Green Chemistry Principles, replacement of toxic solvents with green solvents, alternatives to toxic chemicals which are widely used in Polymer Science, such as bisphenol A, phosgene, epichlorohydrin, pyridine, halogenated compounds, phthalate plasticizers, isocyanates, and lead compounds are discussed. Commodity polymers from biomass, carbon dioxide-based polymers, biodegradable polymers, water-borne coatings, and the prevention and collection of macroplastic and microplastic waste are also covered in detail. Current limitations of green chemistry practices in Polymer Science are highlighted, which need to be addressed at the earliest.
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Bio-degradable polymers through green chemistry: advances, applications, and future perspectives
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This review paper rounds up recent research on making plastics that break down naturally, using cleaner and safer manufacturing methods instead of harsh chemicals and fossil fuels. This matters because everyday plastics that don't degrade are piling up in landfills and oceans, breaking into microplastics that end up in our food, water, and even our bodies — switching to truly biodegradable materials for packaging, medical devices, and consumer products could help cut down that exposure over time. The paper notes that cost and durability challenges still need to be solved before these greener plastics can fully replace conventional ones.
PLASTIC: A Comprehensive Overview of Polymer Traits, Environmental Impacts, and Future Technological Solutions.
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This review paper pulls together existing research on plastics—how they're made, why they don't break down naturally, and how tiny fragments called microplastics end up polluting our environment (and potentially our bodies). The good news: scientists are developing plant-based alternatives (like PLA and PHA bioplastics) and new recycling technologies that could reduce our reliance on traditional plastics. While this paper doesn't present new experiments, it's a useful roundup of where the science stands and where solutions might be headed.
Environmental performance of bioplastics: degradation pathways, chemical leaching, and life-cycle implications
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This review of existing research found that bioplastics—supposedly eco-friendly alternatives to regular plastic—may not be as safe as promised. These "green" plastics can still break down into harmful microplastics and leak toxic chemicals, potentially affecting human health just like conventional plastics. The study shows we need better testing and disposal systems before bioplastics can truly be considered a safer choice for people and the environment.
PLASTIC: A Comprehensive Overview of Polymer Traits, Environmental Impacts, and Future Technological Solutions.
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This review pulls together existing research on different types of plastics—how they're made, how they behave, and why they stick around in the environment for so long (hint: it's about their chemical structure). It highlights the growing problem of microplastics contaminating our air, water, and food, while also exploring promising solutions like plant-based bioplastics that could break down naturally instead of persisting in our bodies and ecosystems. The big takeaway: understanding plastic at a molecular level could help us design smarter alternatives, rather than just cutting back on plastic use.
Conventional Plastics' Harmful Effects and Biological and Molecular Strategies for Biodegradable Plastics' Production
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This review examines the health harms caused by plastics, including ingestion of microplastics and exposure to plastic chemical additives such as BPA and DEHP, as well as strategies for producing biodegradable alternatives. Both the particles themselves and the chemicals they contain pose health risks through multiple exposure routes.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.