Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Polymer Materials Based on Polyethylene and Natural Rubber: Acquiring, Investigation, Properties

Researchers developed biodegradable polymer materials by blending polyethylene with natural rubber to create more environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional synthetic packaging materials, investigating the acquisition methods, structural properties, and performance characteristics of the resulting composites.

2022 Polymers 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradation Studies of Polyhydroxybutyrate and Polyhydroxybutyrate-co-Polyhydroxyvalerate Films in Soil

Researchers studied the biodegradation properties of two bioplastic polymers, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-polyhydroxyvalerate (PHBV), in soil under different moisture conditions. Both polymers degraded completely in fully saturated soil, with the study tracking changes in appearance, chemical signatures, mechanical properties, and molecular weight, supporting these materials as viable biodegradable alternatives to conventional petrochemical-derived plastics.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of microbial biomass content on biodegradation and mechanical properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) composites

This paper is not about microplastics — it studies how adding microbial biomass (algae and cyanobacteria) to a biodegradable polyester (PHB) accelerates its degradation rate in soil.

2023 Biodegradation 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Copolymers and Blends Based on 3-Hydroxybutyrate and 3-Hydroxyvalerate Units

This paper is not about microplastics. It reviews the biodegradable biopolymer PHBV (poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)), covering its production, properties, degradation behavior, and applications in various sectors. While PHBV is studied as a potential biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics, this paper focuses on polymer science and materials engineering rather than microplastic pollution.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent Developments in Synthesis, Properties, Applications and Recycling of Bio-Based Elastomers

This review covers recent advances in creating elastomers (flexible rubber-like materials) from renewable biological sources instead of petroleum, including natural rubber, plant oils, and bio-based polyurethanes. Current elastomers are mostly non-recyclable thermosets that take centuries to decompose, contributing to microplastic formation as they slowly fragment. Developing bio-based, recyclable alternatives could help reduce the long-term generation of microplastic pollution from rubber and flexible plastic products.

2024 Molecules 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Properties and Degradation Performances of Biodegradable Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Blends and Keratin Composites

Researchers tested biodegradable blends of polylactic acid and polyhydroxybutyrate with added keratin waste as fillers, assessing how well the composites degrade. The work contributes to developing plastic alternatives that break down in the environment rather than persisting as microplastics.

2021 Polymers 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Elastomers: Where Is the Solution?

Despite its title referencing biodegradable elastomers, this paper reviews the development of sustainable rubber-like polymer materials as alternatives to conventional synthetic rubbers — not microplastic pollution. It examines the chemistry of bio-based and degradable elastomers and is not specifically relevant to microplastics or human health, though reducing persistent synthetic rubber in consumer products could have long-term environmental benefits.

2025 Chemistry - A European Journal 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Valorization of agro-industrial waste from the cassava industry as esterified cellulose butyrate for polyhydroxybutyrate-based biocomposites

This study produced biodegradable biocomposites from cassava pulp microcrystalline cellulose and in-house synthesized polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) biopolymer. The cassava agro-industrial waste-based materials offer a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics for packaging applications, with the potential to reduce environmental microplastic accumulation.

2023 PLoS ONE 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Biobased poly(3-hydroxybutyrate acid) composites with addition of aliphatic polyurethane based on polypropylene glycols

This study developed biodegradable composites by blending poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), a natural bioplastic produced by bacteria, with aliphatic polyurethanes to improve its mechanical properties and thermal stability. Improving bioplastic performance is important for replacing conventional petroleum-based plastics that persist in the environment.

2022 Acta of Bioengineering and Biomechanics 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of PHB/Clay Biocomposites Exposed to Degradation in an Aquatic Environment

This study examined how bioplastic composites made from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and clay degrade in water. Adding clay altered the degradation rate, and the type of clay (natural vs. organically modified) had different effects — important for designing biodegradable plastics that break down predictably in aquatic environments.

2023 Materials Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Composites Based on Fossil Types of Raw Materials. Part Ii: the Process of Biodegradation (review)

This review (Part II) examines the biodegradation processes of composite materials made from conventional fossil-based plastics and biodegradable components. The study addresses how these hybrid materials break down under environmental conditions, relevant to understanding whether biodegradable plastic alternatives actually degrade as expected.

2023 Polymer materials and technologies 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Biopolymers as renewable polymeric materials for sustainable development - an overview

This review examines biopolymers as renewable polymer materials for sustainable development, covering starch-, cellulose-, bacteria-, soy-, and natural polyester-based biopolymers, their applications, and their potential to replace conventional synthetic plastics derived from fossil resources.

2022 Polimery 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Bacterial and enzymatic degradation of poly(cis-1,4-isoprene) rubber: Novel biotechnological applications.

This review examines bacterial and enzymatic degradation of natural rubber, which is widely used in tires and generates micro-plastics during end-of-life disposal. The authors highlight biotechnological approaches as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical rubber recycling, with implications for reducing tire-derived microplastic pollution.

2020 Biotechnology advances
Article Tier 2

Characterization of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB) from Alternative, Scalable (Waste) Feedstocks

This study compares two biodegradable bioplastics (P3HB) made from waste feedstocks — one produced by cyanobacteria using sunlight and CO2, the other by methane-eating bacteria — and finds both have thermal and mechanical properties on par with conventionally produced P3HB. The relevance to microplastics is indirect: switching to genuinely biodegradable plastics made from waste gases could reduce the long-lasting microplastic particles generated by conventional petroleum-based polymers.

2023 Bioengineering 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents for PHB Recovery: Mechanistic Insights and Implications for Sustainable Downstream Processing

This study examines recovery methods for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biodegradable plastic alternative, with a focus on replacing toxic chlorinated solvents with green and natural deep eutectic solvents; PHB is relevant to microplastics research because switching from conventional plastics to PHB would reduce the long-lived microplastic fragments that accumulate in the environment. The paper provides quantitative comparisons of extraction yields and solvent recyclability to guide more sustainable PHB production at scale.

2026 Polymers
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Polymer-Based Natural Fiber Composites

This review examined biodegradable polymer composites reinforced with natural fibers as alternatives to conventional plastics. Combining biodegradable matrices with plant fibers improved mechanical performance while maintaining degradability and reducing the risk of persistent microplastic contamination. These materials represent a promising direction for sustainable packaging and construction applications.

2022 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioplástico colorido: corantes naturais como uma alternativa para coloração de poli(3-hidroxibutirato)

This Brazilian study developed colored films made from the biodegradable bioplastic poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) with natural dyes, as an alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Bioplastics that fully biodegrade are important for reducing the accumulation of microplastics in soil and aquatic environments.

2023 Revista Científica Multidisciplinar Núcleo do Conhecimento
Article Tier 2

A review on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) [P(3HB-co-3HHx)] and genetic modifications that affect its production

This review examined the properties, biodegradation behavior, and application potential of the biopolymer P(3HB-co-3HHx), a polyhydroxyalkanoate with mechanical properties comparable to common commodity plastics. The authors assess its viability as a drop-in replacement for single-use plastics, medical devices, and packaging with genuine end-of-life biodegradability.

2022 Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Biodegradable Polymers: The Future of Sustainable Plastic Alternatives

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.

2025 Scriptora International Journal of Research and Innovation (SIJRI)
Article Tier 2

Performance Spectrum of Home-Compostable Biopolymer Fibers Compared to a Petrochemical Alternative

Researchers compared home-compostable biopolymer fibers to conventional petrochemical alternatives, evaluating their mechanical performance and degradability to assess whether biobased materials can serve as viable substitutes that reduce microplastic pollution.

2023 Polymers 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Acceleration of Biodegradation Using Polymer Blends and Composites

This review examines how blending biodegradable polymers with other materials can tune both physical properties and biodegradation rates, noting that many biodegradable plastics degrade far more slowly than claimed. The authors stress that biodegradation claims require rigorous validation under realistic environmental conditions.

2023 Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthesis and Study of Fully Biodegradable Composites Based on Poly(butylene succinate) and Biochar

Researchers synthesized poly(butylene succinate) biocomposites containing up to 5% biochar and found that incorporating biochar improved thermal stability and altered mechanical properties, offering a pathway to fully biodegradable materials that could help address microplastic pollution from conventional plastics.

2023 Polymers 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbial Production of Biopolymer Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB): Current Challenges and its Application

This review examines the microbial production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biodegradable polyester produced by microorganisms as an energy and carbon storage compound, covering current production challenges and industrial applications. The study discusses PHB as a biopolymer alternative to petroleum-based plastics, addressing cost, yield, and scalability barriers limiting its commercial adoption.

2023 Asian Journal of Chemistry 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring biopolymer degradation: Environmental effects and future insights

This review examines how biopolymers degrade in the environment and evaluates their potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics. While biopolymers offer environmental benefits like reduced pollution, the study notes challenges including slower-than-expected degradation in natural settings, potential microplastic generation, and the need for better standardized testing and supportive policies.

2026 Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials