The article will explain which of the given polymers is biodegradable. Elaborations and elucidations will also be put forward in the context of related environmental aspects such as recycling, composting, disposal methods, and greener alternatives.
Which among buna-n, nylon-6,6, PHBV, and PVC is a biodegradable polymer?
PHBV is the biodegradable polymer among the given polymers. It is actually synthesised by bacteria making it both natural and organic.
Some essential components that are necessary for PHBV are:
- Glucose
- Propionate
- E.coli strains
To develop a stance, let us first delve into the definition of biodegradation. Biodegradation is the breakdown that is caused by microbes and as a result, materials are converted into simpler materials that can return to nature again.
However, degradation is a simple breakdown by external conditions and the end results can not be assimilated back into nature.
When it comes to degradation, yes it is possible. Almost everything can degrade under the influence of external conditions.
However, biodegradation requires certain properties or prerequisites such as the material should be sourced from nature, must have organic inside, and can be broken down by microbes in 180 days or less. Therefore, based on this literature, it can be said that the biodegradable polymer is PHBV.
Which among buna-n, nylon-6,6, PHBV, and PVC is compostable?
Since PHBV is organic in nature, the polymer can be added to the compost pile so that the waste from the polymer can be made into compost.
Many people think that biodegradation and composting are identical things, however, in reality, there are some discrepancies between the two; however subtle they are.
The rule of thumb, however, is that when something is biodegradable, it also can be composted providing the fact that there are no negative effects rendered on life in any way.
The basic idea of composting is to increase the organic content of the soil so that there can be benefits that can be achieved such as water conservation, increased yield, better growth et cetera.
Therefore, composting can be done only with that waste that has organic content in it so that it can be converted into organic compost which can be used as a fertiliser.
Another advantage that is offered by composting is that the compost can be used as a natural fertiliser. This is not only good for your soil or field but also replaces synthetic and chemical-based fertilisers known to cause negative and detrimental impacts on the soil and associated life.
The next important question is how to. The how-to will be explained below
How to do composting?
When it comes to being practical with composting, there are several points that you can keep in mind.
When it comes to composting, there are mainly two polarities that you need to be mindful of. One is that composting can be done at commercial centres and the other is that composting can be done at homes too.
When it comes to composting in the composting centres, all you need to do is to give your guinea pig bedding to the composting centres. The rest will be done by them.
However, when it comes to composting at home, there are some simple steps that you can take the advantage of.
Regardless, the subjective point of view of many is that composting at home is a lot more fun and makes you one step closer to being eco-friendly.
- Selection of suitable place
- The place should be accessible but decently distant as well
- The next step is the making of a compost pile. This can be done openly or in a compost bin.
- The second option is usually pursued when you need to do hot composting.
- Composting is done with two types of materials. One is brown and the other is green. You need to create a balanced ratio of both to achieve optimal results.
- The next step is the continuous mixing and aerating of the compost pile. Once a week should do.
- The compost should be ready within 5-8 months depending on the type of composting and external conditions provided and facilitated.
Which among buna-n, nylon-6,6, PHBV, and PVC can be recycled?
One of the most common questions that are followed with biodegradability is the curiosity about whether polymers can be recycled or not. This is because recycling is the next best thing that can happen if biodegradation walks out of the room.
However, there is good news here. polymers are among the synthetic polymers that can be recycled. This means that there is a way to mitigate the negative effects that may be rendered by the use of polymers and this includes the recycling or reusing of polymers.
The next big question is how these polymers can be recycled or reused. As per the reusing, there are various domestic and personal DIY endeavours that one can resort to. The exact options will vary based on the subjective cases.
As regards recycling, you may either discard these polymers in recycling bins or contact the local curbside recycling endeavours. If your local recycling centres do not accept recycling, you can contact the third party or private ventures such as Earth911 or Terracycle.
The bottom line is to have the products made from polymers recycled so that the products do not end up in landfills or water bodies wherein they may cause pollution and degradation.
What about naturality? (3 reasons why PHBV is eco-friendly)
When it comes to that, none of these is natural polymers except for PHBV. There are two main types of polymers that include natural polymers and synthetic polymers.
Natural polymers are the polymers that occur in nature whereas synthetic polymers do not occur in nature but are rather made in the labs at the expense of chemicals and non-renewable resources.
If we explore the cases of polymers such as buna-s or nylon-66, we will see that all these polymers do not exist in nature but rather are made in the labs and because of this, the polymers can not be said to be biodegradable or naturally sourced.
However, PHBV is natural because it is made from bacteria. Other than being natural, it is
- Biodegradable
- Non-toxic
- Biocompatible
- Compostable
- Naturally sourced
This leads us to the conclusion that the only eco-friendly polymer on the list is PHBV.
Conclusion
It is concluded that PHBV is the biodegradable polymer among the given polymers. It is actually synthesised by bacteria making it both natural and organic.
PHBV is organic in nature, the polymer can be added to the compost pile so that the waste from the polymer can be made into compost. The article also explained steps and ways to actually do it.
The recycling aspect and naturality were also covered and it was concluded that PHBV is eco-friendly because it is
- Biodegradable
- Compostable
- Biocompatible
- Non-toxic
- Naturally sourced
References
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- Burkinshaw, S. M. (1995). Nylon. In Chemical Principles of Synthetic Fibre Dyeing (pp. 77-156). Springer, Dordrecht.
- Chavarria, F., & Paul, D. R. (2004). Comparison of nanocomposites based on nylon 6 and nylon 66. Polymer, 45(25), 8501-8515.
- Senthilvelan, S., & Gnanamoorthy, R. (2006). Selective carbon fibre reinforced nylon 66 spur gears: develop
- Rivera-Briso, A. L., & Serrano-Aroca, Á. (2018). Poly (3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyvalerate): Enhancement strategies for advanced applications. Polymers, 10(7), 732.
- Synthetic Rubbers. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/synthetic-rubber