Synthetic polymers are important in many branches of industry, for example in the packaging industry. However, they have an undesirable influence on the environment and cause problems with waste deposition and utilization. Thus, there is a tendency to substitute such polymers with polymers that undergo biodegradable processes. Increasing interest in applying polymers based on natural materials such as starch has been observed. This review describes biodegradation processes of xenobiotics such as aromatic compounds, plastics (PVA, polyesters, polyethylene, and nylon), and polymer blends (Starch/Polyethylene, Starch/Polyester, and Starch/PVA). Moreover, this review includes information about biodegradable polymers such as mixtures of synthetic polymers and substances that are easy digestible by microorganisms (chemically modified starch, starch-polymer composites, thermoplastic starch, and biodegradable packing materials), synthetic materials with groups susceptible to hydrolytic microbial attack (polycaprolactone), and biopolyesters (poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates). Production of this kind of material and introducing it to the market is important for the natural environmental. It may result in decreasing the volume of waste dumps.
The results of measurements of susceptibility to biodegradation and the effect of storage in soil on the mechanical properties of thermoplastic starch films obtained from blends of starch, glycerol and emulsifiers. Studies have shown a varied influence of the blend compositions, extrusion conditions and storage on the scope and efficiency of biodegradation of the products.
The biodegraded foils based on starch and containing different fillers to improve the foil properties have been studied. The foil resistance to solvents of different character, their susceptibility to biodegradation in compost and in the soil, in natural conditions, have been determined. The foil quality and rate of their degradation have been observed under an electron microscope (SEM images).
Badano wpływ mikrobiologicznego zanieczyszczenia powietrza hali technologicznej na jakość mikrobiologiczną opakowań jednostkowych wytwarzanych dla przemysłu spożywczego. Średnie kwartalne zanieczyszczenie powietrza hali technologicznej było zróżnicowane i zależało od pory roku. Największy wzrost liczby drobnoustrojów odnotowano w drugim i trzecim kwartale. Typową mikroflorę powietrza hali technologicznej stanowiły pleśnie z rodzajów: Penicillium, Cladosporium, Alternaría i Fusarium oraz bakterie z rodzaju Micrococcus i Bacillus. Zanieczyszczenie powietrza hali produkcyjnej miało istotny wpływ na jakość mikrobiologiczną produkowanych opakowań. Zależność stopnia zanieczyszczenia opakowań od zanieczyszczenia powietrza hali technologicznej była proporcjonalna, o współczynniku korelacji r = 0,8÷0,96.