What is biodegradability?
Solanyl Biodegradability (1) Although the interest in renewable biomaterials has been increased significantly, obscurities arise by the fact how biodegradation and composting, both natural processes in which organic material is converted into environmentally acceptable molecules (H2O, CO2, minerals and biomass), are correlated with polymer matrices and relating properties. In specialised literature the following definitions are being used (Van der Zee, M. 1997. Structure-Biodegradability Relationships of Polymeric Materials. Dissertation University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands, ISBN 90-365-09580, Chapter 2): Degradation: is the irreversible process in which a material undergoes physical, chemical and/or biochemical changes leading to an increase in entropy. Biodegradation: is degradation catalysed by biological activity, ultimately leading to mineralization and/or biomass. Mineralization: is the conversion of (organic) material to naturally occurring gasses and/or inorganic ele
