ISSN:
1572-8900
Keywords:
Chromatographic fingerprinting
;
degradation products
;
stage II product
;
catabolism
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
,
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
Notes:
Abstract The degradation products of polymers are identifiable by chromatography. The degradation product patterns (or “fingerprints”) formed depend on the type of polymer, the degradation mechanism(s), and also the type of additive present in the material. The chromatographic fingerprint of biotically aged degradable low-density polyethylene (i.e., LDPE+starch+prooxidant) shows, in particular, the absence of low molecular weight carboxylic acids, which suggests an assimilation of these carboxylic acids by the microorganisms. The degradation products of natural polymers are usually intermediates that are used again in the anabolic cycles. It is possible to transfer the terminology from the natural polymers, where the catabolism of natural polymers consists of three stages, and apply this also to the degradable synthetic polymers. During stage I the natural polymers degrade to their major building blocks (e.g., amino acids, glycerol, hexoses, pentoses, etc.), during stage II these products are collected and converted to a smaller number of even simpler molecules [e.g., acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA)]. In stage III, finally, the acetyl-CoA enters the citric acid cycle, where energy is gained in parallel with the release of CO2 and H2O.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02083882
