• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2008

There are increasing public concerns that the disposal of most synthetic carbon-based plastics is a great threat to the environment. These have led to intensive research and development of degradable plastics, such as biodegradable plastics, photodegradable plastics, and multi-degradable plastics. Although these degradable plastics may not completely replace common synthetic plastics, these minimize environmental impacts caused by non degradable plastics. Photodegradable plastics are synthetic polymers into which have been incorporated copolymers or light-sensitive additives to weaken the structural bonds in polymer chains when exposed to UV radiation. A better understanding of photodegradable plastics, which also play an important role in the degradation of multi-degradable plastics, will expand the usage of degradable plastics. The aim of present article is to review the formation, degradation mechanism and properties of photodegradable plastics.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.365-374
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• 2008

Plastics are comparatively new polymeric materials that are manufactured by chemical synthesis, making them different from natural materials such as wood, paper, stone, metal, and glass. Due to a wide range of properties, including processing capabilities and duration, plastics have become rapidly ubiquitous, being used in all industries, and have improved our quality of life. However, it is true that plastics cause environmental contamination problems that have become important social issues, such as environmental hormone leakage due to incineration or reclamation, difficulty in securing reclamation sites, and deadly poisonous dioxin generated by the incomplete incineration of waste plastic materials. To solve these problems, it is urgent to develop and commercialize degradable plastics that can be stably and conveniently used just as general plastics, and that are easily decomposed by sunlight, soil microbes, and heat generated from reclaimed land after use. This review presents recent worldwide trends in the development and marketing of environmentally degradable plastics.

• The monthly packaging world
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• s.263
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• pp.52-66
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• 2015

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2015

Sustainable and eco-friendly polymers, natural polymers, bio-based polymers, and degradable polyesters, are of growing interest because of environmental concerns associated with waste plastics and emissions of carbon dioxide from preparation of petroleum-based polymers. Degradable polymers, poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC), and poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA), are related to reduction of carbon dioxide in processing. To improve a weak mechanical property of a degradable polymer, a blending method is widely used. This study was forced on the component separation of degradable polymer blends for effective recycling. The melt-mixed blend films in a specific solvent were separated by two layers. Each layer was analysed by FT-IR, DSC, and contact angle measurements. The results showed that each component in the PPC/PLLA and PPC/PBAT blends was successfully separated by a solvent.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2010

It is becoming increasingly important to utilize alternative raw materials for plastic industries other than petrochemical-based plastics. Cellulose derivatives were the bases of the original synthetic plastics. Cellulose and its derivatives, especially the widely used cellulose acetate (CA), constitute one of the main classes of raw materials for production on artificial fibers, films, plastics etc. CA is one of the well known polymers produced from naturally available plant substance. Many researches have focused on the isolation of cellulose from the plant cells to use them as cellulose derivatives and composite materials. Chemical and mechanical treatments provide changes on the molecular structures influencing the fundamental properties of these naturally abundant polymer. The aim of this review article is to review biodegradation, synthesis, formation, and utilization of cellulose esters, especially di-acetate, used in packaging related researches.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.820-824
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• 2022

Ecologically sustainable means of development is the point to support environmental homeostasis. One of our roles is to find bio-degradable resources that can be substituted for petroleum-based products to effectively abide by the natural viability. To counter the issues of deforestation and preserve biodiversity, it is necessary to produce a non-wood crop that can fulfill the requirement for raw material from which several products can be produced. Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus), a member of the family Malvaceae, is showing sufficient potentiality along this road-map. Due to its rich fiber content, it has been used extensively in various fields for long, probably as early as 4,000 BC. At present, kenaf has been used as provider of paper, plastics, fiber glass, biofuel, activated carbon and epoxy composite. This obviously catch one's attention towards its capability to replace petroleum-based products as a whole. Moreover, the plant shows considerable relevance in decreasing pollutants by virtue of its enormous absorption capacity. These multiple applications of kenaf justify its credibility to be the best resource for the better world. The paper presents an overview on its numerous uses reported in the literature that we have investigated and its great potential as a valuable multipurpose crop.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2006

Degradation performance of environmentally friendly plastics that can be disintegrated by combination of sunlight, microbes in soil, and heat produced in landfills was evaluated for use in industries. Two multi-degradable master batches (MCC-101 and MCC-102 were manufactured, separately mixed with polyethylene using film molding machine to produce 0.025 mm thick films, and exposed to sunlight, microbes, and heat. Low- and high-density polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE) films containing MCC-101 and MCC-102 became unfunctional by increasing severe cleavage at the surface and showed high reduction in elongation after 40 days of exposure to ultraviolet light. LDPE and HDPE films showed significant physical degradation after 100 and 120 days, respectively, of incubation at $68{\pm}2^{\circ}C$. SEM images of films cultured in mixed mold spore suspension at $30^{\circ}C$ and 85% humidity for 30 days revealed accelerated biodegradation on film surfaces by the action of microbes. LDPE films containing MCC-l01 showed absorption of carbonyls, photo-sensitive sites, at $1710\;cm${-1}$ when exposed to light for 40 days, whereas those not exposed to ultraviolet light showed no absorption at the same frequency. MCC-101-based LDPE films showed much lower $M_w$ distribution after exposure to UV than its counterpart, due to agents accelerating photo-degradation contained in MCC-101.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 1998

Starch-polyethylene films containing high molecular weight(NW) oxidized-polyethylene and prooxidant were prepared , and thermal -and bio-degradability of the films were determined. Increased levels of starch resulted in a corresponding reduction in mechanical strength of the films. However, the addition of high MW oxidized-polyethylene did not significantly reduce the percent elongation of the films. Thefilms containing high MW oxidized-polyethylene andproosicant were degreaded faster than those containing no aadditive during the heat treatment. The films lost their measureable mechanical properties when their weight-average MW(Mw) fell below 50,000. Biodegradability of the films was determined by a pure culture assay with either Streptomyces badius 252.S. setonii 75Vi2 or S. viridosporous T7A, and by an extracellulr enzyme assay using S. setonii 75vi2. The results from pure culture assay indicated that biomass accumulation on the film surface inhibited chemical and biological degradation of the films. The extracellular enzyme assay demonstrated decrease of percent elongation and increase of carbonyl index of the films. Therefore, extracellular enzyme assay could be used as a good method to evaluate biodegradability of the films.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.596-605
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• 2016

In previous years, practice hand grenades were composed of non-degradable plastics and caused environmental pollution. Therefore, this study applied PLA(Polylactic acid) to practice hand grenades that would biodegradable within a short time. High expectations are being placed on PLA as a substitute for plastics because it can decompose to water and carbon dioxide. The aim of this study was to confirm that the PLA material of a practice hand grenade has biodegradability in a pilot-scale composting unit and estimate the applicability for other items. A composting test was progressed according to ISO 16929(2013). The test process was found to be valid. At the end of the composting test (after 12 weeks), the entire content of the test bin with the test sheet was sieved, sorted and analyzed. A disintegration percentage of 99.2% was obtained after 12 weeks of composting. Therefore, the 90% pass level required by ISO 17088(2013), EN 13432(2000), and ASTM D 6400-12 was easily reached. On the other hand, more research will be needed to determine additional applications of PLA material for consumables.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2023

Despite the easing of social distancing, demand for non-face-to-face services continues to rise. Recently, the EU is pursuing a comprehensive plastic use reduction by expanding the scope of plastic use regulations for packaging plastics according to the New Cyclical Economy Action Plan(NCEAP). In response to this trend, the packaging industry is moving away from conventional non-degradable/petroleum-based plastics and conducting research on packaging materials using biodegradable plastics such as PLA(Poly Lactic Acid), PBAT(Poly Butylene Adipate-co-butylene Terephthalate). On the other hand, ginkgo leaves occur in large quantities in Korea and act as a cause of slip accidents and flooding. In this study, a method to utilize ginkgo biloba leaf as a new alternative biomass resource was proposed by producing lactic acid through pretreatment, enzymatic saccharification, and fermentation processes. For the efficiency of lactic acid production, a comparative analysis of lignin content from before and after browning was performed. In addition, the degree of glucan extraction was evaluated by applying a pretreatment method using three catalysts: hot water, sulfuric acid, and sodium hydroxide. It is difficult to expect high production of lactic acid with single process. Therefore, an integrated process operation using both the pretreated hydrolyzate and the residual solid enzymatic saccharification solution must necessarily be applied.