Читать книгу Biomolecules from Natural Sources - Группа авторов - Страница 38

The synthetic polymer produced chemically through specific chemical reactions or from petroleum oil and their monomers are linked together to form large molecules. They are macromolecules made of linked series of repeated monomers joined by chemical bonds through chemical reactions, mainly polymerization, polycondensation and polyaddition. The polymerization process, in most cases, contains compounds toxic to the live cells. While the biopolymer is compatible with nature, the synthetic polymer is incompatible. This incompatibility was first considered a revolution. The synthetic polymer, in most cases, is undegradable. For example, the invention of durable plastic was considered a revolution at the time of its discovery; however, this image has changed over time. Plastic (and its products) is either a synthetic or semisynthetic material that can be molded or extruded into objects, films, filaments or be used to make structures such as coatings and adhesives. Their accumulation as waste is causing great concern. Millions of tons each year are discarded and accumulated in the earth, which causes affects from the ground through to the ozone layer (the plastic byproducts and the gases produced either through production processes or after its burning). Today nobody could guarantee that 100% of polymerization step(s) are free from toxic chemical compounds and stable against the natural, physical or chemical degradation.