Journal of Research in Applied Chemistry

Authors : Rahul Mehta, Meera Singh

Abstract : The increasing environmental concerns associated with traditional plastics have spurred the development of biodegradable polymers as sustainable alternatives. This paper investigates the synthesis, characterization, and environmental impact of various biodegradable polymers, including polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and starch-based polymers. We employed different polymerization techniques, such as ring-opening polymerization (ROP) and microbial fermentation, to synthesize these polymers. Characterization methods, including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, were used to analyze their thermal and mechanical properties. The biodegradability of these polymers was evaluated through soil burial tests and enzymatic degradation studies. The results indicate that biodegradable polymers exhibit comparable properties to conventional plastics while offering significant environmental benefits, such as reduced persistence in the environment and lower carbon footprint.

Keywords : Biodegradable polymers, Polylactic acid, Polyhydroxyalkanoates, Starch-based polymers, Environmental impact