Recent Advances in Biodegradable Polymers and Plastics

Preface (E. Chiellini and R. Solaro). PART 1. BIOBASED AND SYNTHETIC BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS. 1. Bacterial Production of PHA from Lactose and Cheese Whey Permeate (Silvana Povolo and Sergio Casella). 2. Synthesis of Novel Graft Polyhydroxyalkanoates (Estelle Renard, et al.). 3. Fiber Spinning Behavior of a 3--Hydroxybutyrate/3--Hydroxyhexanoate Copolymer (Eric Bryan Bond). 4. Study of the Influence of Plasticizers on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Poly(3--Hydroxybutyrate) Compounds (Rodrigo Cirillo Baltieri, et al.). 5. Factorial Design in Optimization of PHAs Processing (Emo Chiellini, et al.). 6. Biodegradable Polymeric Films Based on Microbial Poly(3--Hydroxybutyrate). Effect of Gamma--Radiation on Mechanical Properties and Biodegradability (S.S. Miyazaki, et al.). 7. Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Poly(3--Hydroxybutyrate--co--3--Hydroxyvalerate) Plasticized by Biodegradable Soybean Oils (Jea Shin Choi and Won Ho Park). 8. Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Poly(3--Hydroxybutyrate) Blends with Starch and Starch Derivatives (Lucia H. Innocentini--Mei, et al.). 9. Characterization of Surface Modified Flax Fibers and Their Biocomposites with PHB (Seung Goo Lee, et al.). 10. Aquenous Phase Size Exclusion Chromatography of Polyvinylalcohols of Different Degrees of Hydrolysis (Igor Lacik, et al.). 11. Injection Molded Hybrid Composites Based on Corn Fibers and Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) (Patrizia Cinelli, et al.). 12. Biodegradable Hybrid Polymer Films Based on Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) and Collagen Hydrolyzate (Emo Chiellini, et al.). 13. Liquid Mulch Based on Poly(Vinyl Alcohol). PVA--Soil Interaction (Emo Chiellini, et al.). 14. Characteristics and Degradation of Hybrid Composite Films Prepared from PVA, Starch and Lignocellulosics (Patrizia Cinelli, et al.). 15. Synthesis and Thermal Properties of Epoxy Resins from Ester--Carboxylic Acid Derivative of Alcoholysis Lignin (Shigeo Hirose, et al.). 16. Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Rigid Polyurethane Foams Derived from Sodium Lignosulfonate Mixed with Diethylene--, Triethylene-- and Polyethylene Glycols (T. Hatakeyama, et al.). 17. Thermosetting of Wheat Protein Based Bioplastics: Modeling of Mechanisms and Material Properties (Sandra Domenek, et al.). 18. New Thermo--Molded Biodegradable Films Based on Sunflower Protein Islate: Aging and Physical Properties (Oliver Orliac and Francoise Silvestre). 19. Thermoplastic Processing of Protein--Based Bioplastics: Chemical Engineering Aspects of Mixing, Estrusion and Hot Molding (Marion Pommet, et al.). 20. Novel Blends from Agave Fibers and Poly(methl methacrylate) (Andreas Koschella, et al.). 21. Effect of Filler Shape on Mechanical Properties of Rigid Polyurethane Composites Containing Plant Particles (Masahiro Funabashi, et al.). 22. Unconventional Cellulose Products by Fluorination of Tosyl Cellulose (Andreas Koschella and Thomas Heinze). 23. Polycaprolactone Based Biodegradable Polyurethanes (Shu Hui Wang, et al.). 24. The Performance of Degradable Polymer Bags (Georgina Davis, et al.). 25. Properties of Adsorptive Capacity of Amino Acids Modified Chitosans for Copper Iron Removal (Mariamne Sehonor--Gomez, et al.). PART 2. BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERIC MATERIALS FOR BIOMEDICAL/PHARMACEUTICAL APPLICATIONS. 26. Multifunctional Polyesters as New Candidate Materials for Biomedical Applications. Synthesis and Structural Characterization (Francesca Signori, et al.). 27. Malolactonate Polymers and Copolymers for Biomedical Applications (Ranieri Bizzari, et al.). 28. An Investigation of the Condensation Kinetics in Poly(Ester--Amide) and Poly(Ester--Sulphide) Preparation (Roberto Solaro, et al.). 29. Biodegradable Starburst Carbon Chain Polymer--Protein and Lysine Dendrite Conjugates: Adjustment of Immune Properties, DNA Bonding and Delivery (Guennady P. Vlasov). 30. Polymeric Nanoparticles Based on Polylactide and Related Copolymers (Emo Chiellini, et al.). 31. Biodegradable Ultra--High Strength Poly(L.lactide) Rods for Bone Fixation (Suong--Hyu Hyon, et al.). 32. Surface Patterning and Biological Evaluation of Semi--Interpenetrated Poly(HEMA)/Poly(Akyl beta--malolactonate)s (Federica Chiellini, et al.). PART 3. BIODEGRADABLE ASSESSMENT OF POLYMERIC MATERIALS. 33. A Simple Method Suitable to Test the Ultimate Biodegradability of Environmentally Degradable Polymers (Emo Chiellini and Andrea Corti). 34. Strategies for Detecting Ecotoxicological Effects of Biodegradable Polymers in Agricultural Applications (J. Fritz, et al.). 35. Biodegradation of Packaging Materials: Composing of Polyolefins (Jitendra K. Pandey, et al.). 36. Degradation of the Blends of Natural and Synthesis Copolyesters in Different Natural Environments (Maria Rutkowska, et al.). 37. The Enzymatic Degradation of Commercial Biodegradable Polymers by Some Lipases and Chemical Degradation of Them (Chikara Tsutsumi, et al.). 38. Additives for Controlled Degradation of Agricultural Plastics: ENVIROCARETM (M. Bonora and D. De Corte). 39. Effect of the remaining Lanthanide Catalysts on the Hydrolytic and Enzymatic Degradation of Poly--(epsi--caprolactone) (Richard Gattin, et al.).