Biodegradable Polymeric Materials for the Environment

Biodegradable polymers are a special class of polymer that breaks down after its intended purpose by bacterial decomposition process to result in natural byproducts such as gases (CO۲, N۲), water, biomass, and inorganic salts. These polymers are found both naturally and synthetically made, and largely consist of ester, amide, and ether functional groups. Their properties and breakdown mechanism are determined by their exact structure. These polymers are often synthesized by condensation reactions, ring opening polymerization, and metal catalysts. There are vast examples and applications of biodegradable polymers. Combined with the current background, this work reviewed the general classification and the application of typical biodegradable polymers, providing readers an intuitive and systematic understanding of biodegradable polymers