We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Aqueous degradability of water-soluble, thioester-containing polyacrylamides with UCST-type behaviour in salt solutions obtained by rROP
Summary
Researchers synthesized water-soluble polyacrylamide copolymers containing thioester bonds designed to degrade rapidly in water when exposed to common household chemicals like bleach, caustic soda, or amino acids, reducing molecular weight by up to 90%. Designing degradability directly into water-soluble polymers — which are widely used in industry and agriculture and can contribute to microplastic-like pollution — is a promising strategy for preventing their persistence in aquatic environments.
We report the successful synthesis of hydrophilic thioester-containing polyacrylamide copolymers by the RAFT and free-radical copolymerisation of dibenzo[c,e]oxepane-5-thione with either acrylamide or N-isopropylacrylamide. These copolymers efficiently degrade in aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide, isopropylamine, L-cysteine, and household bleach, reducing the weight-average molecular weight by up to ∼90%.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
RNA-inspired intramolecular transesterification accelerates the hydrolysis of polyethylene-like polyphosphoesters
Researchers synthesized new biodegradable plastic alternatives inspired by RNA chemistry, creating polyethylene-like materials that degrade much faster through a self-accelerating hydrolysis reaction. Developing truly degradable replacements for conventional polyethylene could help reduce long-lived microplastic accumulation in the environment.
Biodegradation of water‐soluble and water‐dispersible polymers for agricultural, consumer, and industrial applications—Challenges and opportunities for sustainable materials solutions
This review examines the biodegradability of water-soluble and water-dispersible polymers used in agricultural, consumer, and industrial products, assessing how polymer structure and application context affect degradation rates and environmental safety. The authors argue that biodegradability must be evaluated in realistic use conditions rather than idealized laboratory settings to accurately assess environmental risk.
Uniformly crosslinked algal bioplastic with triggerable decomposition in salt water
Researchers developed a uniformly crosslinked algal bioplastic designed to decompose on demand when exposed to salt water, presenting this material as a strategy to reduce marine plastic pollution and limit microplastic formation in ocean environments.
Efficient Synthesis of Hydrolytically Degradable Block Copolymer Nanoparticles via Reverse Sequence Polymerization‐Induced Self‐Assembly in Aqueous Media
Researchers developed an efficient method to synthesize hydrolytically degradable block copolymer nanoparticles using reverse-sequence polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) in water, enabling controlled nanoparticle formation that can break down under aqueous conditions.
Photo aging of polyester microfiber in freshwater and seawater environments: kinetics, mechanisms, and influencing factors
UV aging of polyester (PET) microfibers accelerates faster in seawater than in freshwater, driven by reactive ions like nitrate, bromide, and chloride. This matters because faster aging in marine environments means PET microfibers — the most abundant microplastic in aquatic systems — break down more rapidly into smaller, potentially more bioavailable nanoplastic fragments in the ocean.