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1B+C Abiotic Transformations + Biodegradation (MOP/44) The Biodegradability of Ionic and Neutral Polymers. Porter, Darren1, Falicki, Slavomir1, Karalis, Elpiniki1, Hammond, Greg1, 1 New Substances Branch, Environment Canada, Hull, Quebec, Canada ABSTRACT- Biodegradation is an important factor for determining whether or not a substance may persist in the environment and is used frequently when conducting ecological risk assessments of polymers. Polymers, unlike discrete chemicals, may contain several functional groups on branched or repeating chains. If such polymers degrade in the environment, smaller fragments of lower molecular weight could be produced which may behave differently or elicit ecological effects not seen in the main polymer. The degradation of polymers can depend on many factors such as intrinsic properties and the nature of the surrounding environment. It can also vary depending upon the medium in which it is released. For this work we have examined the degradability of ionic and neutral polymers using data received at the New Substances Branch of Environment Canada. Degradability with respect to polymer type, average number molecular weight (Mn), percentage of low molecular weight oligomers, and water solubility is discussed. Key words: ionic and neutral polymers, biodegradation, degradability |
