Biological degradation of plastics: A comprehensive review

Biotechnology Advances - Tập 26 Số 3 - Trang 246-265 - 2008
Aamer Ali Shah1, Fariha Hasan1, Abdul Hameed1, Safia Ahmed1
1Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan

Tóm tắt

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

Abou-Zeid DM., Müller RJ, Deckwer WD. Anaerobic biodegradation of natural and synthetic polyesters, Dissertation, Technical University Braunschweig, Germany, 2001. Internet:http://opus.tu-bs.de/opus/volltexte/2001/246.

Akutsu, 1998, Purification and properties of a polyester polyurethane-degrading enzyme from Comamonas acidovorans TB-35, Appl Environ Microbiol, 64, 62, 10.1128/AEM.64.1.62-67.1998

Albertsson, 1980, The shape of the biodegradation curve for low and high density polyethylenes in prolonged series of experiments, Eur Polym J, 16, 623, 10.1016/0014-3057(80)90100-7

Albertsson, 1990, The influence of biotic and abiotic environments on the degradation of polyethylene, Prog Polym Sci, 15, 177, 10.1016/0079-6700(90)90027-X

Albertsson, 1993, Aspects of biodeterioration of inert and degradable polymers, Int Biodeterior Biodegrad, 31, 161, 10.1016/0964-8305(93)90002-J

Albertsson, 1987, The mechanism of biodegradation of polyethylene, Polym Degrad Stab, 18, 73, 10.1016/0141-3910(87)90084-X

Albertsson, 1994, Abiotic degradation products from enhanced environmentally degradable polyethylene, Acta Polym, 45, 97, 10.1002/actp.1994.010450207

Allen, 1999, Purification and characterization of a soluble polyurethane degrading enzyme from Comamonas acidovorans, Int Biodeterior Biodegradd, 43, 37, 10.1016/S0964-8305(98)00066-3

Anonymous, 1999, Ecological assessment of ECM plastics, 14

Anthony, 2004, Involvement of linear plasmids in aerobic biodegradation of vinyl chloride, Appl Environ Microbiol, 70, 6092, 10.1128/AEM.70.10.6092-6097.2004

Artham, 2008, Biodegradation of Aliphatic and Aromatic Polycarbonates, Macromol Biosci, 8, 14, 10.1002/mabi.200700106

ASTM D 5271-92, 1992

ASTM D 3826-98 Standard Practice for Determining Degradation End Point in Degradable Polyethylene and Polypropylene Using a Tensile Test, 1998.

Atlas, 1997

Augusta, 1992, Biologisch abbaubare Kunststoffe: Testverfahren und Beurteilungskriterien, Chem Ing Tech, 64, 410, 10.1002/cite.330640504

Augusta, 1993, A rapid evaluation plate-test for the biodegradability of plastics, Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 39, 673, 10.1007/BF00205073

Bachmann, 1999, Investigation of the enzymatic cleavage of diastereomeric oligo(3-hydroxybutanoates) containing two to eight HB subunits. A model for the stereo-selectivity of PHB depolymerase from Alcaligenes faecalis, Macromolecular, 32, 1777, 10.1021/ma981496w

Barlaz, 1989, Mass-balance analysis of anaerobically decomposed refuse, J Environ Eng, 115, 1088, 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1989)115:6(1088)

Bastioli, 1994, The starch based thermoplastics [Novamont]

Bellina, 1999, Activated vermiculite, a solid bed for testing biodegradability under composting conditions, Polym Degrad Stab, 66, 65, 10.1016/S0141-3910(99)00053-1

Bellina, 2000, The test method of composting in vermiculite is unaffected by the priming effect, Polym Degrad Stab, 69, 113, 10.1016/S0141-3910(00)00048-3

Benedict, 1983, Polycaprolactone degradation by mixed and pure cultures of bacteria and a yeast, J Appl Pol Sci, 28, 335, 10.1002/app.1983.070280129

Bikiaris, 1998, LDPE/plasticized starch blends containing PE-g-MA copolymer as compatibilizer, Poly Degrad Stab, 59, 287, 10.1016/S0141-3910(97)00126-2

Bikiaris, 1999, Mechanical properties and biodegradability of LDPE blends with fatty-acid esters of amylase and starch, J Appl Polym Sci, 71, 1089, 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4628(19990214)71:7<1089::AID-APP7>3.0.CO;2-I

Biodegradable Plastics-Developments and Environmental Impacts. www.environment gov.au/settlements/publications/waste/degradables/biodegradable/chapter3.html. Nolan-ITU Pvt. Ltd. Prepared in association with ExcelPlas, Australia, October, 2002.

Biological Waste Management Symposium, 1995

Bonhomme, 2003, Environmental biodegradation of polyethylene, Polym Degrad Stab, 81, 441, 10.1016/S0141-3910(03)00129-0

Braun, 1986, vol. 1

Breslin, 1993, Degradation of starch–plastic composites in a municipal solid waste landfill, J Environ Polym Degrad, 1, 127, 10.1007/BF01418206

Calmon, 2000, An automated test for measuring polymer biodegradation, Chemosphere, 41, 645, 10.1016/S0045-6535(99)00491-9

Chandra, 1997, Biodegradation of maleated linear low-density polyethylene and starch blends, Polym Degrad Stab, 56, 185, 10.1016/S0141-3910(96)00212-1

Cornell, 1984, Biodegradation of photooxidized polyalkylenes, J Appl Polym Sci, 29, 2581, 10.1002/app.1984.070290814

Crabbe, 1994, Biodegradation of colloidal ester-based polyurethane by soil fungi, Int Biodeterior Biodegrad, 33, 103, 10.1016/0964-8305(94)90030-2

Cruz-Pinto, 1994, The kinetics and mechanism of polyethylene photo-oxidation, Angew Makromol Chem, 216, 113, 10.1002/apmc.1994.052160108

Degli-Innocenti, 1998, Evaluation of the biodegradation of starch and cellulose under controlled composting conditions, J Environ Polym Degrad, 6, 197, 10.1023/A:1021825715232

Developing Products that Protect the Environment, 2007 Cargill, http://www.cargill.com/about/citizenship/developing products.htm.

DIN V 54900-Prüfung der Kompostierbarkeit von polymeren Werkstoffen The German Standardisation Organisation 1998, (DIN determination of the whole carbon balances.

Doi, 1990

Doi, 1992, Structural effects on biodegradation of microbial and synthetic poly(hydroxyalkanoate)

Elbanna, 2004, Studies on the biodegradability of polythioester copolymers and homopolymers by polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-degrading bacteria and PHA depolymerases, Arch Microbiol, 182, 212

EI-Shafei, 1998, Biodegradation of disposable polyethylene by fungi Streptomyces species, Polym Degrad Stab, 62, 361, 10.1016/S0141-3910(98)00019-6

Erlandsson, 1997, The mode of action of corn starch and aprooxidant system in LDPE: influence of thermooxidation and UV-irradiation on the molecular weight changes, Polym Degrad Stab, 55, 237, 10.1016/S0141-3910(96)00139-5

Evangelista, 1991, Effect of compounding and starch modification on properties of starch-filled low density polyethylene, Ind Eng Chem Res, 30, 1841, 10.1021/ie00056a025

Fan, 1996, Hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation of poly(g-glutamic acid) hydrogels and their application in slow-release systems for proteins, J Environ Polym Degrad, 4, 253, 10.1007/BF02070694

Frazer, 1994, O-methylation and other transformations of aromatic compounds by acetogenic bacteria, 445

Fukuzaki, 1989, Synthesis of copoly (D, L-lactic acid) with relative low molecular weight and in vitro degradation, Eur Polym J, 25, 1019, 10.1016/0014-3057(89)90131-6

Gilan, 2004, Colonization, biofilm formation and biodegradation of polyethylene by a strain of Rhodococcus ruber, Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 65, 97

Gilmore, 1990, Biodegradation of poly(beta-hydroxyalkanoates)

Glass, 1989, 433, 9

Goldberg, 1995, A review of the biodegradability and utility of poly (caprolactone), J Environ Polym Degrad, 3, 61, 10.1007/BF02067481

Göpferich, 1997, Mechanisms of polymer degradation and elimination, 451

Griffin, 1980, Synthetic polymers and the living environment, Pure Appl Chem, 52, 399, 10.1351/pac198052020399

Griffin, J.L., Biodegradable Synthetic Resin Sheet Material Containing Starch and a Fatty Material. Coloroll Limited, assignee. C08 J 003/20. 1977. United States patent 4016117.

Gu, 2000, Microbial corrosion of metals, 915

Gu, 2000, Microbial degradation and deterioration of polymeric materials, 439

Gu, 2003, Microbiological deterioration and degradation of synthetic polymeric materials: recent research advances, Int Biodeterior Biodegrad, 52, 69, 10.1016/S0964-8305(02)00177-4

Gugumus, 1990, vol. 2, 29

Hadad, 2005, Biodegradation of polyethylene by the thermophilic bacterium Brevibacillus borstelensis, J Appl Microbiol, 98, 1093, 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2005.02553.x

Hamilton, 1995, Polymers as solid waste in municipal landfills, J Air Waste Manage Assoc, 43, 247, 10.1080/10473289.1995.10467364

Hasan, 2007, Synergistic effect of photo and chemical treatment on the rate of biodegradation of low density polyethylene by Fusarium sp. AF4, J Appl Polym Sci, 105, 1466, 10.1002/app.26328

Haschke, 1998, Monatsh Chem/Chemical Monthly, 12, 487

Heidary, 1994, Hydrolyzable poly(ethylene terephthalate), J Environ Polym Degrad, 2, 19, 10.1007/BF02073483

Hiltunen, 1997, The biodegradation of lactic acid-based poly (ester-urethanes), J Environ Polym Degrad, 5, 167, 10.1007/BF02763660

Hocking, 1994, 48

Hoffmann, 1997, Manometric determination of biological degradability of substances poorly soluble in aqueous environments, Int Biodet Biodegrad, 39, 327, 10.1016/S0964-8305(97)00033-4

Howard, 2002, Biodegradation of polyurethane: a review, Int Biodeter Biodegrad, 40, 245, 10.1016/S0964-8305(02)00051-3

Howard, 1999, Growth of Pseudomonas chlororaphis on a polyester-polyurethane and the purification and characterization of a polyurethanase-esterase enzyme, Int Biodeter Biodegrad, 43, 7, 10.1016/S0964-8305(98)00057-2

http://composite.about.com/library/glossary/p/bldef-p3928.htm, Photodegradation, 1989.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradation, Biodegradation, 2007.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbial_metabolism, Microbial metabolism, 2007.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Polyhydroxybutyrate&oldid=189442759. Accessed February 14, 2008.

http://www.chemquest.com/store/polyvinyl-acetate-european-adhesives.html, 2006.

http://www.envis-icpe.com, Plastics recycling-Economic and Ecological Options. ICPE 2006;4(4):1–12.

http://www.willowridgeplastics.com/faqs.html, 2005.

Huang, 1990, Biodegradable plastics: a review, Adv Polym Technol, 10, 23, 10.1002/adv.1990.060100103

Huang, 1992, The effects of structure and morphology on the degradation of polymers with multiple groups, 149

Ikada, 1999, Electron microscope observation of biodegradation of polymers, J Environ Polym Degrad, 7, 197, 10.1023/A:1022882732403

Ikejima, 1999, Influence of tacticity and molecular weight of poly(vinyl alcohol) on crystallization and biodegradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid)/poly(vinyl alcohol) blend films, Polym Degrad Stab, 66, 263, 10.1016/S0141-3910(99)00076-2

Imam, 1992, Fate of starch-containing plastic 6lms exposed in aquatic habitats, Curr Microbiol, 25, 1, 10.1007/BF01570075

ISO 14852, 1999

ISO 14855, 1999

Itavaara, 1995, A simple screening test for studying the biodegradability of insoluble polymers, Chemosphere, 31, 4359, 10.1016/0045-6535(95)00304-Q

Jaeger, 1994, Bacterial lipases, FEMS Microbiol Rev, 15, 29, 10.1111/j.1574-6976.1994.tb00121.x

Jayasekara, 2005, Biodegradability of selected range of polymers and polymer blends and standard methods for assessment of biodegradation, J Polym Environ, 13, 231, 10.1007/s10924-005-4758-2

Jendrossek, 1998, Microbial degradation of polyesters: a review on extracellular poly-(hydroxyalkanoic acid) depolymerase, Polym Degrad Stab, 59, 317, 10.1016/S0141-3910(97)00190-0

Jendrossek, 2002, Microbial degradation of polyhydroxyalkanoates, Annu Rev Microbiol, 56, 403, 10.1146/annurev.micro.56.012302.160838

Jendrossek, 1993, Degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), PHB, by bacteria and purification of a novel PHB depolymerase from Comamonas sp, J Environ Polym Degrad, 1, 53, 10.1007/BF01457653

Jendrossek, 1995, Biochemical and molecular characterization of the Pseudomonas lemoignei polyhydroxyalkanoate depolymerase system, J bacteriol, 1773, 596, 10.1128/jb.177.3.596-607.1995

JIS K 6953, 2000

Joel, F.R., Polymer Science & Technology: Introduction to polymer science, Eds. 3, Pub: Prentice Hall PTR Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458, 1995; p: 4–9.

Johnson, 1993, Degradation of degradable starch–polyethylene plastics in a compost environment, Appl Environ Microbiol, 59, 1155, 10.1128/AEM.59.4.1155-1161.1993

Jun, 1994, Synthesis of copolyesters containing poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(e-caprolactone) units and their susceptibility to Pseudomonas sp. Lipase, J Environ Polym Degrad, 2, 9, 10.1007/BF02073482

Kamal, 1992, Natural and artificial weathering of polymers, 127

Kasuya, 1994, Enzymatic degradation of poly[(R)-3-hydroxy-butyrate] by Comamonas testosterone ATSU of soil bacterium, Polym Degrad Stab, 45, 379, 10.1016/0141-3910(94)90208-9

Kasuya, 1999, Cloning and characterization of the bipA gene encoding ER chaperone BiP from Aspergillus oryzae, J Biosci Bioeng, 88, 472, 10.1016/S1389-1723(00)87661-6

Kathiresan, 2003, Polythene and plastics-degrading microbes from the mangrove soil, Rev Biol Trop, 51, 3

Kawai, 1995, Breakdown of plastics and polymers by microorganisms, Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol, 52, 151

Kay, 1991, Bacterial degradation of polyester polyurethane, Int Biodeterior Biodegrad, 27, 205, 10.1016/0265-3036(91)90012-G

Kay, 1993, Chemical and physical changes occurring in polyester polyurethane during biodegradation, Int Biodeterior Biodegrad, 31, 209, 10.1016/0964-8305(93)90006-N

Kikkawa, 2002, Crystal morphologies and enzymatic degradation of melt-crystallized thin films of random copolyesters of (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid with (R)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acids, Polym Degrad Stab, 76, 467, 10.1016/S0141-3910(02)00051-4

Kim, 2001, Toxicity and biodegradation of products from polyester hydrolysis, J Environ Sci Health Part A Toxic Hazard Subst Environ Eng, 36, 447, 10.1081/ESE-100103475

Kings, 1992

Kirbas, 1999, Biodegradation of polyvinylchloride (PVC) by white rot fungi, Bull Environ Contam Toxicol, 63, 335, 10.1007/s001289900985

Kita, 1997, Cloning of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerase from a marine bacterium, Alcaligenes faecalis AE122, and characterization of its gene product, Biochim Biophys Acta, 1352, 113, 10.1016/S0167-4781(97)00011-0

Kleeberg, 1998, Biodegradation of aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters by Thermomonospora fusca and other thermophilic compost isolates, Appl Environ Microbiol, 64, 1731, 10.1128/AEM.64.5.1731-1735.1998

Korner, 2005, Behavior of biodegradable plastics in composting facilities, Waste Manag, 25, 409, 10.1016/j.wasman.2005.02.017

Kwpp, 1992, Biodegradability of modified plastic films in controlled biological environments, Environ Technol, 26, 193, 10.1021/es00025a024

Lee, 1991, Appl Environ Microbiol, 57, 678, 10.1128/AEM.57.3.678-685.1991

Lee, 1996, Bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates, Biotechnol Bioeng, 49, 1, 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0290(19960105)49:1<1::AID-BIT1>3.3.CO;2-1

Luzier, 1992, Materials derived from biomass/biodegradable materials, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 89, 839, 10.1073/pnas.89.3.839

Mabrouk, 2001, Degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and its copolymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) by a marine Streptomyces sp. SNG9, Microbiol Res, 156, 323, 10.1078/0944-5013-00115

McCarthy, 1999, Advances in properties and biodegradability of continuous, immiscible, biodegradable, polymer blends, Macromol Symp, 144, 63, 10.1002/masy.19991440107

Mogil`nitskii, 1987, Disruption of the protective properties of the polyvinyl chloride coating under the effect of microorganisms, Prot. Met. (Engl. Transl.), 23, 173

Molitoris, 1996, Scanning electron microscopy of polyhydroxyalkanoate degradation by bacteria, Appl Microbiol Biotech, 46, 570, 10.1007/s002530050863

Mueller, 2003, Biodegradability of polymers: regulations and methods for testing, vol. 10

Mueller, 2006, Biological degradation of synthetic polyesters—enzymes as potential catalysts for polyester recycling, Proc Biochem, 41, 2124, 10.1016/j.procbio.2006.05.018

Mueller, 1999, Sauerstoff und Kohlendioxid gleichzeitig messen, LaborPraxis, 94

Mukai, 1994, Efficient hydrolysis of polyhydroxyalkanoates by Pseudomonas stutzeri YM1414 isolated from lake water, Polym Degrad Stab, 43, 319, 10.1016/0141-3910(94)90002-7

Nakajima-Kambe, 1995, Isolation and characterization of a bacterium which utilizes polyester polyurethane as a sole carbon and energy source, FEMS Microbiol Lett, 129, 39, 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1995.tb07554.x

Nakajima-Kambe, 1997, Determination of the polyester polyurethane breakdown products and distribution of the polyurethane degrading enzyme of Comamonas acidovorans strain TB-35, J Ferment Bioeng, 83, 454, 10.1016/S0922-338X(97)83000-0

Nakajima-Kambe, 1999, Microbial degradation of polyurethane, polyester polyurethanes and polyether polyurethanes, Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 51, 134, 10.1007/s002530051373

Nakayama, 1985, Purification and properties of extracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) depolymerases from Pseudomonas lemoignei, Biochimica Biophysica Acta, 827, 63, 10.1016/0167-4838(85)90101-3

Nakayama, 1996, Synthesis and biodegradation of poly(γ-butyrolactone-co-L-lactide), J Environ Polym Degrad, 4, 205, 10.1007/BF02067454

Narayan, 1993, Biodegradation of polymeric materials (anthropogenic macromolecules) during composting, 339

Nishida, 1993, Distribution of poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(ε-caprolactone) aerobic degrading microorganisms in different environments, J Environ Polym Degrad, 1, 227, 10.1007/BF01458031

Nishioka, 1994, 584

OECD, 1994

Ohtaki, 1998, Biodegradation of poly-ε-caprolactone under controlled composting conditions, Polym Degrad Stab, 61, 499, 10.1016/S0141-3910(97)00238-3

Ojumu, 2004, Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates, a bacterial biodegradable polymer, Afri J Biotechnol, 3, 18, 10.5897/AJB2004.000-2004

Olayan, 1996, Photochemical and thermal crosslinking of polymers, J Macromol Sci Rev Macromol Chem Phys, 36, 671, 10.1080/15321799608014858

Otake, 1995, Biodegradation of low-density polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl-chloride, and urea-formaldehyde resin buried under soil for over 32 years, J Appl Polym Sci, 56, 1789, 10.1002/app.1995.070561309

Owen, 1984

Pagga, 1998, Biodegradability and compostability of polymeric materials in the context of the European packaging regulation, Polym Degrad Stab, 59, 371, 10.1016/S0141-3910(97)00192-4

Pagga, 2001, Determination of the aerobic biodegradability of polymeric material in aquatic batch tests, Chemosphere, 42, 319, 10.1016/S0045-6535(00)00069-2

Park, 1994, Thermoplastic starch blends with poly(vinyl alcohol): processability, physical properties, and biodegradability, Polymer News, 19, 230

Pathirana, 1985, Studies on polyurethane deteriorating fungi. Part 3. Physico-mechanical and weight changes during fungal deterioration, Int Biodeterior, 21, 41

Pavia, 1988

Pettit, 1975, Biodeterioration of footwear, 237

Pospisil, 1997, Highlights in chemistry and physics of polymer stabilization, Macromol Symp, 115, 143, 10.1002/masy.19971150110

Pranamuda, 1999, Degradation of poly (l-lactide) by strains belonging to genus Amycolatopsis, Biotechnol Lett, 21, 901, 10.1023/A:1005547326434

Pranamuda, 1997, Polylactide degradation by an Amycolatopsis sp, Appl Environ Microbiol, 63, 1637, 10.1128/AEM.63.4.1637-1640.1997

Ratto, 1999, Processing, performance and biodegradability of a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester/starch system, Polymer, 40, 6777, 10.1016/S0032-3861(99)00014-2

Richterich, 1998, The ‘twophase closed bottle test’ a suitable method for the determination of `ready biodegradability' of poorly soluble compounds, Chemosphere, 37, 319, 10.1016/S0045-6535(98)00049-6

Rivard, 1995, Starch esters as biodegradable plastics: Effects of ester group chain length and degree of substitution on anaerobic biodegradation, Enz Microbial Tech, 17, 848, 10.1016/0141-0229(94)00120-G

Romen, 2004, Thermotolerant poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-degrading bacteria from hot compost and characterization of the PHB depolymerase of Schlegelella sp. KB1a, Arch Microbiol, 182, 157, 10.1007/s00203-004-0684-2

Rowe, 2002, Growth of Bacillus subtilis on polyurethane and the purification and characterization of a polyurethanase-lipase enzyme, Int Biodeterior Biodegrad, 50, 33, 10.1016/S0964-8305(02)00047-1

Ruiz, 1999, Purification and characterization of two polyurethanse enzymes from Pseudomonas chlororaphis, Int Biodeterior Biodegrad, 43, 43, 10.1016/S0964-8305(98)00067-5

Sabir, I., Plastic Industry in Pakistan. http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/investors/nov2004/index.html, 2004.

Sang, 2000, Analysis of microbial community in the degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) in soil, 981

Sang, 2002, Fungal contribution to in situ biodegradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) film in soil, Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 58, 241, 10.1007/s00253-001-0884-5

Sauders, 1964

Schober, 2000, Poly(3-hydroxyvalerate) depolymerase of Pseudomonas lemoigne, Appl Environ Microbiol, 66, 1385, 10.1128/AEM.66.4.1385-1392.2000

Scott, 1990, Photo-biodegradable plastics: their role in the protection of the environment, Polym Degrad Stab, 29, 135, 10.1016/0141-3910(90)90026-4

Scott, 1999, Polymers in modern life

Seymour, 1989, Polymer science before & after 1899: notable developments during the lifetime of Maurtis Dekker, J Macromol Sci Chem, 26, 1023, 10.1080/00222338908052032

Shah, A.A., Role of microorganisms in biodegradation of plastics, Ph. D. thesis. Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan, 2007.

Shah, 2007, Isolation and characterization of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) degrading bacteria and purification of PHBV depolymerase from newly isolated Bacillus sp. AF3, Int Biodeterior Biodegrad, 60, 109, 10.1016/j.ibiod.2007.01.004

Sharabi, 1993, Testing of some assumptions about biodegradability in soil as measured by carbon dioxide evolution, Appl Environ Microbiol, 59, 1201, 10.1128/AEM.59.4.1201-1205.1993

Sharpley, 1976

Shimao, 2001, Biodegradation of plastics, Curr Opinion Biotechnol, 12, 242, 10.1016/S0958-1669(00)00206-8

Shirakura, 1983, An extracellular D(−)-3-hydroxybutyrate oligomer hydrolase from Alcaligenes faecalis, Biochim Biophys Acta, 748, 331, 10.1016/0167-4838(83)90310-2

Shogren, 1992, polymer compatibility and biodegradation of starch-poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid)-polyethylene blends, J Appl Polymer Sci, 44, 1971, 10.1002/app.1992.070441112

Sivan, 2006, Biofilm development of the polyethylene-degrading bacterium Rhodococcus ruber, Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 72, 346, 10.1007/s00253-005-0259-4

Solaro, 1998, A new respirometric test simulating soil burial conditions for the evaluation of polymer biodegradation, J Environ Polym Degrad, 5, 203, 10.1023/A:1021877732070

Steinbuchel, 1998, Bacteria and other biological systems for polyester production, TIPTECH, 16, 419

Swift, 1997, Non-medical biodegradable polymers: environmentally degradable polymers, 473

Takaku, 2006, Isolation of a gram-positive poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)-degrading bacterium from compost, and cloning and characterization of a gene encoding PHB depolymerase of Bacillus megaterium N-18-25-9, FEMS Microbiol Lett, 264, 152, 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2006.00448.x

Tokiwa, 1994, 190

Tokiwa, 2004, Degradation of microbial polyesters, Biotechnol Lett, 26, 1181, 10.1023/B:BILE.0000036599.15302.e5

Tomita, 1999, Isolation of thermophiles degradating poly (L-lactic acid), J Biosci Bioeng, 87, 752, 10.1016/S1389-1723(99)80148-0

Toncheva, 1996, Synthesis and environmental degradation of polyesters based on poly (ε-caprolactone), J Environ Polym Degrad, 4, 71, 10.1007/BF02074868

Torres, 1996, Screening of microorganisms for biodegradation of poly (lactic acid) and lactic acid-containing polymers, Appl Environ Microbiol, 62, 2393, 10.1128/AEM.62.7.2393-2397.1996

Tosin, 1998, Detection of a toxic product released by a polyurethane-containing film using a composting test method based on a Mineral Bed, J Environ Polym Degrad, 6, 79, 10.1023/A:1022854105320

Tsuchii, 1977, Microbial degradation of styrene oligomer, Agric Biol Chem, 41, 2417, 10.1271/bbb1961.41.2417

Tsuji, 2002, Environmental degradation of biodegradable polyesters Poly(ε-caprolactone), poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate], and poly(l-lactide) films in controlled static seawater, Polym Degrad Stab, 75, 347, 10.1016/S0141-3910(01)00240-3

Tudorachi, 2000, Testing of polyvinyl alcohol and starch mixtures as biodegradable polymeric materials, Polymer Test, 19, 785, 10.1016/S0142-9418(99)00049-5

Tung, 1999, 207

Vega, 1999, Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of a polyurethane- degrading enzyme from Pseudomonas fluorescens, Int Biodeterior Biodegrad, 43, 49, 10.1016/S0964-8305(98)00068-7

Vona, 1965, vol. 1, 141

Wang, 2002, Enzymatic hydrolysis of bacterial poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxypropionate)s by poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) depolymerase from Acidovorax Sp. TP4, Biomacromolecules, 3, 828, 10.1021/bm020019p

Wang, 2004, Agricultural application and environmental degradation of photo-biodegradable polyethylene mulching films, J Poly Environ, 12, 7, 10.1023/B:JOOE.0000003122.71316.8e

Webb, 2000, Fungal colonization and biodeterioration of plasticized polyvinyl chloride, Appl Environ Microbiol, 66, 3194, 10.1128/AEM.66.8.3194-3200.2000

Weiland, 1995, Biodegradation of thermally oxidized polyethylene, Polym Degrad Stab, 48, 275, 10.1016/0141-3910(95)00040-S

Whitchurch, 2006, Some recent advances in some recent advances in thermoplastically thermoplastically-processable processable biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol-, starch- and polylactide and polylactide-based based polymer blends polymer blends

Williams, 1996, Biodegradable plastics from plants, Chemtech, 38, 38

Winursito, 1996, Biodegradability, hydrolytic degradability, and builder performance in detergent formulations of partially dicarboxylated alginic acid, J Environ Polym Degrad, 4, 113, 10.1007/BF02074872

Witt, 1997, Biodegradation behavior and material properties of aliphatic/aromatic polyesters of commercial importance, J Environ Poly Degrad, l5, 81, 10.1007/BF02763591

Witt, 2001, Biodegradation of aliphatic–aromatic copolyesters: evaluation of the final biodegradability and ecotoxicological impact of degradation intermediates, Chemosphere, 44, 289, 10.1016/S0045-6535(00)00162-4

Xu, 1998, Degradation of silicone polymer as influenced by clay minerals, Environ Sci Technol, 32, 1199, 10.1021/es9708676

Yamada-Onodera, 2001, Degradation of polyethylene by a fungus. Penicillium simplicissimum YK, Poly Degrad Stab, 72, 323, 10.1016/S0141-3910(01)00027-1

Zheng, 2005, A review of plastic waste biodegradation, Cri Rev Biotechnol, 25, 243, 10.1080/07388550500346359