ABSTRACT
ENVIRONMENTALLY DEGRADABLE POLYMERIC MATERIALS: DEFINITIONS AND BACKGROUND
Cornelia Vasile ∗
1.1. DEFINITIONS
Environmentally degradable polymeric materials (EDPs) are materials with inherent sensitivity to degradation (change in chemical structure), which degraded after use into low molecular weight compounds under specific environmental conditions caused by physical, mechanical, and chemical agents or microorganisms; ultimately degrade into CO2 and H2O with production of cell biomass or CO2, CH4, and H2O by action of microorganisms under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, respectively.
