Biodegradation of Natural and Synthetic Polymer

Abstract

Polymer contamination with the advent of fast industrialization has become one of the serious threat to the natural environment. Due to lack of proper knowledge, poor waste management practice and unavailability of potential microbial strains, preference toward the biodegradable manmade and natural polymers. The prevalent occurrence of synthetic polymers is related to industrialization and domestic practices which affect the marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Scientific approaches exploited for polymer degradation include physical, chemical and biological treatments. Among them, biodegradation serves as eco-friendly approach to remediate polluted environment using living organisms. In this chapter biodegradation of natural (cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin), synthetic (polyurethane, polyethylene succinate, polycaprolactone, polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene) polymers and associated factors that influence the polymer biodegradation process have been discussed.