Biodegradation Studies of Polyhydroxybutyrate and Polyhydroxybutyrate--Polyhydroxyvalerate Films in Soil.

Due to increased environmental pressures, significant research has focused on finding suitable biodegradable plastics to replace ubiquitous petrochemical-derived polymers. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a class of polymers that can be synthesized by microorganisms and are biodegradable, making them suitable candidates. The present study looks at the degradation properties of two PHA polymers: polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polyhydroxybutyrate--polyhydroxyvalerate (PHBV; 8 wt.

Machine Learning for Melting Temperature Predictions and Design in Polyhydroxyalkanoate-Based Biopolymers.

Diminishing fossil fuel-based resources and ever-growing environmental concerns related to plastic pollution demand for the development of sustainable and biodegradable polymeric material alternatives. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) represent an eco-friendly and economically viable class of polymers with a wide range of applications. However, the chemical diversity combined with tunable physical properties available within PHAs poses discovery and optimization challenges with respect to identifying optimal application-specific chemical compositions.

Predicting the Mechanical Response of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Biopolymers Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have emerged as a promising class of biosynthesizable, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymers to replace petroleum-based plastics for addressing the global plastic pollution problem. Although PHAs offer a wide range of chemical diversity, the structure-property relationships in this class of polymers remain poorly established. In particular, the available experimental data on the mechanical properties is scarce.

Characterization of Polyhydroxybutyrate-Based Composites Prepared by Injection Molding.

The waste generated by single-use plastics is often non-recyclable and non-biodegradable, inevitably ending up in our landfills, ecosystems, and food chain. Through the introduction of biodegradable polymers as substitutes for common plastics, we can decrease our impact on the planet. In this study, we evaluate the changes in mechanical and thermal properties of polyhydroxybutyrate-based composites with various additives: Microspheres, carbon fibers or polyethylene glycol (2000, 10,000, and 20,000 MW).

Molecular dynamics simulations for glass transition temperature predictions of polyhydroxyalkanoate biopolymers.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) represent an emerging class of biosynthetic and biodegradable polyesters that exhibit considerable potential to replace petroleum-based plastics towards a sustainable future. Despite the promise, general structure-property mappings within this class of polymers remain largely unexplored. An efficient exploration of this vast chemical space calls for the development and validation of predictive methods for accurate estimation of a diverse range of properties for PHA-based polymers.

Machine-Learning-Based Predictive Modeling of Glass Transition Temperatures: A Case of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Homopolymers and Copolymers.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate-based polymers-being ecofriendly, biosynthesizable, and economically viable and possessing a broad range of tunable properties-are currently being actively pursued as promising alternatives for petroleum-based plastics. The vast chemical complexity accessible within this class of polymers gives rise to challenges in the rational discovery of novel polymer chemistries for specific applications. The burgeoning field of polymer informatics addresses this challenge via providing tools and strategies for accelerated property prediction and materials design via surrogate machine-learning models built on reliable past data.

C-H bond activation by unsymmetrical 2-(N-arylimino)pyrrolide Pt complexes: geometric effects on reactivity.

Reactions of chloroplatinum methyl complexes with N-(arylimino)pyrrolide anions afford cis and trans neutral platinum methyl complexes. Isomers with methyl trans to the pyrrolide nitrogen activate benzene C-H bonds at 85 degrees C more than 80 times faster than the corresponding cis isomer. In addition, reactions of platinum dimethyl complexes with N-(arylimino)pyrroles (Ar = 4-substituted phenyl) in C6D6 at ambient temperature give unlabeled methane and cis methyl complex containing heavily deuterated Pt-Me.