From: Review on the current status of polymer degradation: a microbial approach
Type of polymer | Structure | R group | Structure | Tm (°C) | Application | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bio-based polymers | ||||||
Poly (3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHV) | Homo-polymer | Ethyl |
| 118 | Industrial, drug delivery | (Averous and Pollet 2012; Liu et al. 2014; Ojumu et al. 2004; Turesin et al. 2000; Bonartsev et al. 2007) |
Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) | Homo-polymer | Methyl |
| 168–182 | Pharmaceutical and drug delivery | (Averous and Pollet 2012; Liu et al. 2014; Velde and Kiekens 2002; Nurbas and Kutsal 2004; Ojumu et al. 2004; Jirage et al. 2011; Turesin et al. 2000) |
Poly (3-hydroxyoctadecanoate) (PHOd) | Homo-polymer | Penta decanoyl |
| 54–55 | Medicine area | (Averous and Pollet 2012; Guo et al. 2013; Dhar et al. 2008; Giudicianni et al. 2013; Bonilla and Perilla 2011) |
Poly (3-hydroxyoctanoate) (PHO) | Homo-polymer | Pentyl |
| 40–60 | Medical applications | (Averous and Pollet 2012; Souza 2013; Basnett et al. 2012; Liu et al. 2011; Basnett et al. 2013) |
Poly (3-hydroxydecanoate) (PHD) | Homo-polymer | Heptyl |
| 54 | Fiber industry | (Averous and Pollet 2012; Werner et al. 2014; Song et al. 1998; Rameshwari and Meenakshisundaram 2014) |
Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHx) | Co-polymer | Methyl, with propyl |
| 10%HH×120 | Medical applications | (Babul et al. 2013; Averous and Pollet 2012; Chang et al. 2014; Coen and Dehority 1970; Xie et al. 2009) |
Poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) | Co-polymer | Methyl with ethyl |
| 165–175 | Pharmaceutical (drug delivery) | (Nerland et al. 2014; Gerard et al. 2014; Nwachkwu et al. 2010; Hatakka 2005; Danis et al. 2015; Zembouai et al. 2014) |
Synthetic polymers | ||||||
Polyethylene | Homo-polymer | Hydrogen |
| 140–143 | In wires (as insulating matter), bags | (Tobin 2010; Nakayama et al. 1991; Menon et al. 2010; Petre et al. 1999) |
Polyvinyl chloride | Homo-polymer | Chorine | [–CH2–CHCl–]n | 115–245 | Leather, pipe, bottles | (Wilkes et al. 2005; Summers 2008; Summers 1996; Menon et al. 2010) |
Polypropylene | Homo-polymer | Methyl |
| 165 | Fabric material, carpets | (Ruiyun et al. 1994; Tripathi 2002; Mccallum et al. 2007; Yam 2009; Perez et al. 2014; Menon et al. 2010; Petre et al. 1999) |
Polyethylene terephthalate | Homo-polymer | Carboxyl and hydroxyl |
| 280 | Packaging applications, bottles, food wrappers, pipes | (Zheng and Yanful 2005; Perez et al. 2002; Liu et al. 2011; Jeffrie 1994; Kwon et al. 2009) |
Polyurethane | Hetero-polymer | Isocyanate and polyol |
| 400 | Fibers, foams, paints, coating, packaging | (Zheng and Yanful 2005; Slade et al. 1964; Zafar 2013; Zembouai et al. 2014) |
Polystyrene | Homo-polymer | Phenyl |
| 240 | Cups, containers, pharmaceutical, plates, cosmetics | (Zheng and Yanful, 2005; Sharma et al. 2000; Flavel et al. 2006; Nakayama et al. 1991; Carvalheiro et al. 2008; Mcalpine et al. 2001) |
Polycarbonate | Homo-polymer | Carbonate |
| 52–150 | Heat-resistant coating, optical instruments and automotives | (Sweileh et al. 2010; Koutsos 2009; Jeon and Baek 2010; Cheah and Cook 2003; Akola and Jones 2003; Scheller and Ulvskov 2010; Takanashi et al. 1982) |
Nylon | Homo-polymer | Amide |
| 190, 276 | Fiber manufacturing | (Leja and Lewandowicz 2010a, b; Chao and Hovatter 1987; Wan et al. 1995; Kubokawa and Hatakeyama 2002; Hasegawa and Mikuni 2014) |