Applied Chemistry for Engineering (공업화학)

The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (한국공업화학회)
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Applications of Biodegradable Polymers in High Value Industries

생분해성 고분자의 고부가가치산업 응용연구동향

  • JeongSun Hwang (Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Incheon National University) ;
  • Hai Yen Nguyen Thi (Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Incheon National University) ;
  • Jeong F. Kim (Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Incheon National University)
  • 황정선 (인천대학교 에너지화학공학과) ;
  • 응우엔티 하이옌 (인천대학교 에너지화학공학과) ;
  • 김정 (인천대학교 에너지화학공학과)
  • Received : 2024.06.30
  • Accepted : 2024.07.16
  • Published : 2024.08.10
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Abstract

As the adverse environmental impacts due to plastic waste become more severe, there is an increasing demand for developing a sustainable ecosystem using biodegradable polymers. Biodegradable polymers are those that can be biochemically decomposed through the enzymatic activity of microorganisms. Currently, a variety of biodegradable polymers with varying properties is being investigated. In particular, polymer blends with an aim to control the biodegradation rate and mechanical properties are under active research. The biodegradable polymer industry, which has not yet reached economies of scale, does not have a cost advantage compared to petroleum-derived polymers. To overcome this challenge, there is an urgent need to expand its application fields to various high-value industries (separators, electronic materials, and medical fields). This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art biodegradable polymers, polymer blends, and recent research trends in new niche applications.

플라스틱 폐기물 처리에 대한 환경문제가 심각하게 대두되면서 생분해성 고분자를 이용한 지속 가능한 생태계 구축에 대한 관심이 높아지고 있다. 생분해성 고분자는 미생물의 효소작용을 통해 물질이 생화학적으로 분해되는 고분자를 의미하며, 현재 다양한 구조와 특성을 갖는 생분해성 고분자가 연구되고 있다. 특히, 생분해성 고분자의 생분해속도와 기계적 특성을 조절하기 위한 고분자 혼합에 대한 연구도 활발히 보고되고 있다. 아직 규모의 경제에 도달하지 못한 생분해성 고분자 산업은 일반 석유유래 고분자 대비 가격경쟁력을 갖추지 못하고 있으며, 이를 극복하기 위해 다양한 고부가 가치 산업(분리막, 전기 전자 소재, 의료 등)으로 응용분야를 확장하고 있다. 본 총설에서는 대표적인 생분해성 고분자의 종류 및 생분해성 고분자 혼합연구, 그리고 응용 분야에 대한 최근 연구 동향을 정리하였다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Incheon National University Research Grant in 2024.

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