Compostable plastics undergo degradation by biological process during composting to yield CO2, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass at a rate consistentwith other known compostable materials and leave no visible, distinguishable or toxic residue. Compostable packaging materials made from biopolymers are being introduced into the market to reduce the amounts of conventional packagingmaterials and at the same time allow recovery by municipal organic waste collection systems. Current legislation encourages polymer processors to seek moreenvironmentally friendly materials with sustainable life cycles. Composting at the end of life will become an increasingly attractive route for the disposal of redundant polymers.This book provides up-to-date results and information about compostable polymer materials in a coherent and comprehensive manner. Itcovers the entire spectrum of preparation, properties, degradation, and environmental issues. The emphasis is on recent studies concerning compostability and ecotoxicological assessment of polymer materials important issues from the ecological point of view. Moreover, the thermal behaviour of compostable polymers is described. Their price evolution over the last decade, an estimation ofthe market and future perspectives are presented.This book provides: focus onthe composting process, compostability standards, compost quality and composting studies; coherent and uniformly presented information about methods of preparation, properties, processing and applications; up-to-date information on ecotoxicity testing and studies of polymers; overview of thermal stability and thermal degradation process of compostable polymer materials; presents future perspectives of compostable polymers, including evolution of price during lastdecade; and information about waste management evolution in Europe, USA and Asia (China) with emphasis on composting during the last decade.
- ISBN: 978-0-08-045371-2
- Editorial: Elsevier Science
- Encuadernacion: Cartoné
- Páginas: 211
- Fecha Publicación: 01/01/2008
- Nº Volúmenes: 1
- Idioma: Inglés