Table Of ContentThe First
International Scientific Consensus
Workshop Proceedings
DEGRADABLE
MATERIALS
Perspectives, Issues, and Opportunities
Editors
Sumner A. Barenberg
Baxter Healthcare Corporation
Round Lake, IL
John L. Brash
McMaster University
Chemical Engineering
Hamilton, Ontario
Ramani Narayan
Michigan Biotech Institute
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
Anthony E. Redpath
EcoPlastics
Willowdale, Ontario
Boca Raton London New York
CRC Press is an imprint of the
Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
First published 1990 by CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
Reissued 2018 by CRC Press
© 1990 by CRC Press, Inc.
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business
No claim to original U.S. Government works
This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but
the author and publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or the consequences of their use. The authors and publishers have attempted to trace
the copyright holders of all material reproduced in this publication and apologize to copyright holders if permission to publish in this form has not been obtained. If any
copyright material has not been acknowledged please write and let us know so we may rectify in any future reprint.
Except as permitted under U.S. Copyright Law, no part of this book may be reprinted, reproduced, transmitted, or utilized in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or
other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without written
permission from the publishers.
For permission to photocopy or use material electronically from this work, please access www.copyright.com (http://www.copyright.com/) or contact the Copyright Clear-
ance Center, Inc. (CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400. CCC is a not-for-profit organization that provides licenses and registration for a variety
of users. For organizations that have been granted a photocopy license by the CCC, a separate system of payment has been arranged.
Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Degradable materials : perspectives, issues and opportunities : the
first international scientific consensus workshop proceedings /
editors, S.A. Barenberg . . . [et al.].
p. cm.
“The First International Scientific Consensus Workshop on
Degradable Materials was convened on November 2, 1989 in Toronto
Canada”--Introd.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 0-8493-4274-0
1. Polymers--Biodegradation--Congresses. I. Barenberg, S. A.
(Sumner A.) II. International Scientific Consensus Workshop on
Degradable Materials (1st : 1989 : Toronto, Ont.)
QP801.P64D44 1990
628.4’45--dc20 90-1562
A Library of Congress record exists under LC control number: 90001562
Publisher’s Note
The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint but points out that some imperfections in the original copies may be apparent.
Disclaimer
The publisher has made every effort to trace copyright holders and welcomes correspondence from those they have been unable to contact.
ISBN 13: 978-1-315-89222-1 (hbk)
ISBN 13: 978-1-351-07132-1 (ebk)
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at http://www.taylorandfrancis.com and the
CRC Press Web site at http://www.crcpress.com
INTRODUCTION
The First International Scientific Consensus Workshop on
Degradable Materials was convened on November 2, 1989 in
Toronto Canada, with 165 participants representing over
130 companies, research institutes and/or governments from
14 different countries. The Workshop addressed the global use
of degradable materials ranging from "HI TECH" applications
such as biomedical implants to commodity applications such as
plastic packaging and in agriculture farming materials. To
date no effort has been made on a global basis to standardize
terminology and characterization techniques, understand the
various mode of degradation as a function of application,
define secondary effects of degradable materials, develop
standard reference materials,or define the issues and needs
associated with degradable materials. To this end an
international group of concerned scientists on an ad hoc
basis, decided to put in place a consensus workshop to develop
a preliminary set of international scientific guidelines.
The objectives of the Workshop were to:
• Define State of the Art
• Propose/Agree to Standard Terminology
• Define Characterization Techniques & Protocols
• Define Mechanisms of Degradation
• Propose Standard Reference Materials
• Identify Issues and Needs
These Proceedings document the findings of the Workshop,
chapters 1 & 26, and the scientific papers presented, chapters
2-25. The question and answer, and discussion sessions were
documented by court stenographers and appear at the end of
each of the scientific papers.
The results of the Workshop indicate that the field of
degradable materials is emerging as an interdisciplinary
technology with a defined market niche that complements
recycling and solid land fill. It was also recognized that the
science and technology of degradable materials is embryonic
on a global scale given the state of the art and the
interdisciplinary nature of the technology,as is discussed in
chapters 1 and 26.
We would like to acknowledge the financial and in kind
support which we received that made this Workshop and
Proceedings possible:
• Canadian Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
• United States Food and Drug Administration
• Ontario Centre for Materials Research
• Abbott Laboratories
• Amoco Chemical Co
• Baxter Healthcare
• Becton Dickinson
• B.F. Goodrich
• Cambridge Consulting LTD
• Ciba Geigy
• Council for Solid Waste Solutions
• E.I. DuPont
• Himont
• International Paper
• Johnson & Johnson
• 3M
• Sam Yang Company
• Society Plastics Industry
• Union Carbide
The Second International Scientific Consensus Workshop on
Degradable Materials has been scheduled to be held in France
in the spring of 1991 with Michele Vert, Ann Christine
Albertsson, Gerald Scott, and David Williams serving as the
Workshop organizing committee.
FIRST INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONSENSUS WORKSHOP
ON DEGRADABLE MATERIALS
HILTON INTERNATIONAL HOTEL
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2-4 November, 1989
PLENARY SESSION
Thursday, 2 November, 1989
Welcome John Brash McMaster University
Introduction Ramani Narayan Michigan Biotechnology
Biodegradation Michele Vert University Rouen
Environmental Roger Lloyd ICI
Environmental Mark Matlock ADM
Photochemcial Jim Guillet University Toronto
MECHANISM & CHARACTERIZATION: CASE STUDIES
Chairperson Jim Anderson Case Western Reserve
Alpha-Hydroxy Acid Based Jan Feijen University Twente
Biodegradable Polymers
Poly (L-Lactide) and
Polydepsipeptides
Photo-Biodegradation of Gerald Scott University Aston
Plastics. A Systems
Approach to Plastic
Waste & Litter
Photo-Degradable Dan Gilead Plastophil
Plastics in Agriculture
Photodegradative George S. Upton Ampacet
Additives
Degradation Studies of Richard G. Austin Exxon Chemical Co,
Polyolefins
Modified Starch Based Peter D. Campbell St. Lawrence Starch
Environmentally Degradable
Plastics
Biodegradation & Test A. C. Albertsson Royal Institute
Methods for Environmental
& Biomedical Applications
of Polymers
MECHANISMS & CHARACTERIZATION: CASE STUDIES
(Continued)
Thursday, 2 November, 1989
Long Term In Vitro James M. Anderson Case Western Reserve
Enzymatic Biodegradation
of Pellethane 2363-80A
Friday, 3 November, 1989 - AM Session
Chairperson Gary Loomis DuPont
The Role of Active Species David F. Williams University Liverpool
Within Tissue in
Degradation Processes
Evaluating Biodegradable Paul Allenza Allied-Signal
Plastics with In-Vitro
Enzyme Assays
Plastic Degradation & Melissa Bouzianis Belland Plastics
Recycling Through
Selective Solubility
Biodegradation of a Poly Don F. Gibbons 3M
(Glycolic Acid) Epineural
Tubulization Device
Studies on the Gene lannotti University Missouri
Environmental Degradation
of Starch-Based Plastics
Preliminary Results of Lucinda Ballinger Rhone Poulenc
Screening Studies on
Effectiveness of Cerium
Salts in Accelerating
Photodegradability of
Thermoplastics
MECHANISMS & CHARACTERIZATION: CASE STUDIES
(Continued)
Friday, 3 November 1989 - PM Session
Chairperson Bill Bailey University Maryland
Biodegradation of Poly David Gilmore U of Massachusetts
(Beta-Hydroxylakanoates)
Degradation Mechanisms in Dick Wool University Illinois
Polyethylene-Starch Blends
Environmental Tony Andrady Research Triangle
Design of Polyester-Based Yutaka Tokiwa MITI
Biodegradable Materials
Effects of Photodegradants Fred C. Schwab Mobil Chemical
on the Environmental Fate
of Linear Low Density
Polyethylene
The Evaluation of Tony Redpath Ecoplastics
Degradation Rates in
Photodegradable Ecolyte
Polystyrene
CONSENSUS BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Biodegradation Shalaby Shalaby Johnson & Johnson
Michele Vert University of Rouen
Environmental Ramani Narayan Michigan Biotechnology
Richard Wool University Illinois
Photochemical Tony Redpath Ecoplastics Limited
Sam Mitra 3M
CONSENSUS PRESENTATIONS
Chairperson Jan Feijen University Twente
Dave Williams University Liverpool
Biodegradation Michele Vert University Rouen
Shalaby Shalaby Johnson & Johnson
Environmental Ramani Narayan Michigan Biotechnology
Richard Wool University Illinois
Photochemical Tony Redpath Ecoplastics Limited
Sam Mitra 3M
Issues & Summary Ramani Narayan Michigan State
IN MEMORY
BILL BAILEY, Ph.D.
DEVOTED SCIENTIST AND PROFESSOR
