MICROBIAL ASPECTS OF THE DEGRADATION OF WATER-SOLUBLE SYNTHETIC-POLYMERS

This paper focuses on microbial aspects of degradation of synthetic po lymers, especially of water-soluble specialty polymers. The polymer st ructures analogous to natural polymers suggest biodegradability which originates from enzymes which do not discriminate between natural and synthetic polymers. Hydrolysis and oxidation are the primary processes for biodegradation. Assimilation rates are determined by the conversi on of the polymer carbons into common metabolic products whether degra dation is exogenous or endogenous. Biochemical mechanisms in the degra dation of polyethers are summarized. Microbial symbiosis was involved in the degradation of a copolymer and the availability of symbiotic pr ocesses is suggested for the degradation of all copolymers. Transporta bility of PEG 20 000 through cell walls was suggested and a chemical p rocess using hydrogen peroxide and ferric ions is proposed for the dep olymerization of PEG with Mn more than 20 000 and its copolymers.