Degradable Hydrocarbon Polymers in Waste and Litter Control

Using chitosan as a thickener for electrospinning dilute PVA solutions to improve fibre uniformity

“…It has been used as a thickener in the food industry [27]. At acidic pH, chitosan behaves like a linear cationic polyelectrolyte and shows high charge density because of the protonation of its amino function groups [28,29]. Due to its high viscosity in dilute aqueous solution and good compatibility with many water-soluble polymers such as poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) [30,31], poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) [32] and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) [33], chitosan is particularly suitable for use as a thickener to improve the rheological properties of an aqueous polymer solution for electrospinning.…”

Oxo-biodegradable polyolefins in packaging

“…Presumably there is widespread agreement that to prolong the useful life of existing landfills, so as to postpone if not avoid the creation of more of them, is a good thing. The use of oxo-biodegradable plastics in packaging can help in this regard, 17 as we shall see.…”

Oxo-biodegradable polyolefins

“…31,32,35 Discarded plastics are a serious problem in freshwater as well as marine environments. The difficulties in addressing this situation include the complexity of identifying the origins of this pollution and the variety of plastics involved.…”

“…16 and elsewhere. 15,32 Proper management of landfills requires the application of a daily cover for aesthetic and hygienic reasons. 15 This cover has commonly been 15 cm of soil which, although effective, is also usually expensive and consumes quite a bit of space.…”