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Biodegradable polymers

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Biopolymers I

Part of the book series: Advances in Polymer Science ((POLYMER,volume 107))

Abstract

The mechanisms of the biodegradation of natural and synthetic polymers is the principal subject of this review, but important concepts related to this subject are included, especially the types of microorganisms involved, the types and reactions of enzymes of importance in the biodegradation of polymers, the structures and properties of important biopolymers, the tests used to evaluate biodegradation, and practical applications of the biodegradation of polymers. In this review, discussions on “biodegradation” are confined to those chemical degradation processes which are caused by biochemical reactions, especially by reactions catalyzed by enzymes produced by microorganisms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts, 01003, Amherst, MA, USA

    Robert W. Lenz

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  1. Robert W. Lenz
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Robert S. Langer Nicholas A. Peppas

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© 1993 Springer-Verlag

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Lenz, R.W. (1993). Biodegradable polymers. In: Langer, R.S., Peppas, N.A. (eds) Biopolymers I. Advances in Polymer Science, vol 107. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0027550

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BFb0027550

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-56148-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-47478-4

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