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Synthesis and Characterization of Amino Acid-based, Eco-friendly Materials
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This paper is not directly about microplastics — it describes the synthesis of new biodegradable poly(ester urea) polymers from amino acid-based monomers as eco-friendly alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, motivated by the scale of plastic pollution including microplastic accumulation in oceans.
Environmental pollution from polymer waste is one of the severe ecological problems. As of today, each day, approximately eight million pieces of plastic waste reach the ocean, where they are transformed into microplastics (small particles). Organisms in the sea are eating microplastics. The harmful effects of garbage ultimately affect humans. Due to the magnitude of the problem, the demand for biodegradable, eco-friendly materials, which will decompose after the operational period and will not pollute the environment, has increased in recent years. The latter contribute significantly to the sustainable development of the economy, as they are characterized by a wide range of uses and zero or minimal environmental impact [1-2]. The presented research concerns the synthesis of rigid structure monomers and biodegradable polymers based on them. Monomers tosyl diamino-diesters (TDADE) were synthesized by thermal condensation of amino acids and cyclic diols in a refluxed organic solvent. For the synthesis of polymers, we used the interfacial polycondensation method - we synthesized pseudoproteins of poly(ester urea) class (PP-PEU) by polycondensation of TDADE monomers with triphosgene. The paper presents the synthesis of six new monomers - TDADE and the preparation of some rigid structured poly(ester urea) based on them. Polymers of this type are actively used mainly in the medical field, however, due to their mechanical characteristics, the application area is expected to be some engineering fields as well.
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Effect of Polymer Properties on the Biodegradation of Polyurethane Microplastics
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Researchers investigated biodegradation of different thermoplastic polyurethane formulations in compost, finding that the ester bond chemistry of polyurethanes enables some degree of hydrolytic degradation. The rate and extent of biodegradation varied substantially with polymer chemistry, with ester-based polyurethanes degrading faster than ether-based types.
Adaptable Polyurethane Networks Containing Tertiary Amines as Intrinsic Bond Exchange Catalyst
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Not relevant to microplastics — this is a polymer chemistry study developing recyclable polyurethane vitrimer materials that incorporate an intrinsic catalyst for bond exchange, improving their thermomechanical properties and recyclability.
Biodegradable Polymers: The Future of Sustainable Plastic Alternatives
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This review examines biodegradable polymers as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, evaluating their potential to reduce microplastic pollution and ecological degradation. The authors assess the performance, environmental fate, and scalability of current biodegradable materials, identifying key challenges for widespread adoption across packaging and consumer product applications.
Seawater‐Degradable Polymers: Seawater‐Degradable Polymers—Fighting the Marine Plastic Pollution (Adv. Sci. 1/2021)
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This review examines polymers designed to degrade in seawater as a potential strategy to combat marine plastic pollution, covering material properties, degradation mechanisms, and the environmental context of marine microplastic impacts. Even seawater-degradable polymers require careful evaluation since the consequences of marine plastic pollution are still not fully understood.
Degradable poly(β-amino ester) microparticles for cleansing products and food fortification
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Researchers developed degradable microparticles made from a material that breaks down into sugar and amino acid byproducts, designed to replace the non-degradable plastic microbeads used in cleansing products and food fortification. These new particles performed similarly to conventional plastic microbeads but dissolve harmlessly in the environment. This innovation could help reduce one significant source of microplastic pollution that enters waterways and the food supply.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.