Gases (CO2, N2) , water, biomass, and inorganic salts.
Disposing of polymers. One of the useful properties of polymers is that they are unreactive, so they are suitable for storing food and chemicals safely. Unfortunately, this property makes it difficult to dispose of polymers. They are often buried in landfill sites or incinerated-burned. Polymers have recycling symbols like this one for PVC to show what they are. Many polymers can be recycled. This reduces disposal problems and the amount of crude oil used. But first the different polymers must be separated from each other. The difference between biodegradable polymers and 'regular' polymers is the bonds that make up the backbone. The backbone is the part of the polymer that extents the brackets. Anything attached to that chain is a side group and is less important. The two examples you show here are very dissimilar.  Biodegradable polymers, as defined in this report, are bio-based or synthetic polymers that decompose to carbon dioxide and water under the agency of microorganisms in industrial or municipal compost facilities. A few of these polymers undergo decomposition in backyard compost bins or in soil, freshwater, or salt water. Other important biodegradable polymers include copolyesters such as polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), polycaprolactone (PCL), cellulose derivatives, polyglycolic acid (PGA), and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), including polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and related polymers. Plastic – material composed mainly of polymers. Biodegradable plastics – plastics that will fully decompose to carbon dioxide, methane, water, biomass and inorganic compounds under aerobic or anaerobic conditions and the action of living organisms. Plastics are typically composed of artificial synthetic polymers. Materials. The susceptibility of a polymer or a plastic. material to biodegradation depends exclusively. on the chemical structure of the polymer. For this. reason, whether the polymer is made of. renewable resources (biomass) or non-renewable (fossil) resources is irrelevant to bio-. degradability. Biodegradable polymers tend to consist of ester, amide, or ether bonds. In general, biodegradable polymers can be grouped into two large groups based on their structure and synthesis. One of these groups is agro-polymers, or those derived from biomass. The structure of biodegradable polymers are instrumental in their properties. While there are innumerable biodegradable polymers, both synthetic and natural, there are a few commonalities among them. Biodegradable polymers are a specific type of polymer that breaks down after its intended purpose to result in natural byproducts such as gases (CO2, N2) , water, biomass, and inorganic salts. The structure of biodegradable polymers are instrumental in their properties. While there are innumerable biodegradable polymers, both synthetic and natural, there are a few commonalities among them. History [edit]. Biodegradable polymers have a long history and since many are natural products, the precise timeline of their discovery and use cannot be accurately traced. One of the first medicinal uses of a biodegradable polymer was the catgut suture, which dates back to at least 100 AD. The structure of biodegradable polymers are instrumental in their properties. While there are innumerable biodegradable polymers, both synthetic and natural, there are a few commonalities among them. Degradation caused by enzymatic process resulting from the action of cells. Note: Modified to exclude abiotic enzymatic processes. Biodegradation is the chemical dissolution of materials by bacteria, fungi, or other biological means. Although often conflated, biodegradable is distinct in meaning from compostable. While biodegradable simply means to be consumed by microorganism, compostable makes the specific demand that the object break down under composting conditions. Biodegradable technology is especially utilized by the bio-medical community. Biodegradable polymers are classified into three groups: medical, ecological, and dual application, while in terms of origin they are divided into two groups: natural and synthetic. 1 Biodegradable polymers and plastics Andrej Kržan. 2 Biodegradation Biodegradation or biotic degradation is a specific property of certain plastic materials-that is, of the polymers these materials are made of. It is a process by which a polymer material decomposes under the influence of biotic components (living organisms). Materials. The susceptibility of a polymer or a plastic. material to biodegradation depends exclusively. on the chemical structure of the polymer. For this. reason, whether the polymer is made of. renewable resources (biomass) or non-renewable (fossil) resources is irrelevant to bio-. degradability.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/ocr_gateway_pre_2011/carbon_chem/6_designer_polymers2.shtml http://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/19896/what-makes-something-biodegradable https://www.ihs.com/products/biodegradable-polymers-chemical-economics-handbook.html http://www.icmpp.ro/sustainableplastics/files/Biodegradable_plastics_and_polymers.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_polymer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_polymer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_polymer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradation http://www.icmpp.ro/sustainableplastics/files/Biodegradable_plastics_and_polymers.pdf
what makes a polymer biodegradable