Question

Which of the following are biodegradable polymers?

• A. Nylon - $6,6$
• B. PHBV
• C. Nylon - $2$ - Nylon - $6$
• D. Polychloroprene

Answer 1

Answer: (B), (C)

PHBV
Nylon - $2$ - Nylon - $6$

$\text{Biodegradation}:$ The backbone of the polymer is hydrolytically unstable. That is, the polymer is unstable in a water based environment. This is the prevailing mechanism for polymers degradation.
Water penetrates the bulk of the device, attacking the chemical bonds in the amorphous phase and converting long polymer chains into shorter water-soluble fragments.

Poly ($3$-hydroxybutyrate-co-$3$-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) is a polyhydroxyalkanoate-type polymer. It is biodegradable, nontoxic, biocompatible plastic produced naturally by bacteria and a good alternative for many non-biodegradable synthetic polymers. It is a thermoplastic linear aliphatic polyester. When disposed, PHBV degrades into carbon dioxide and water. .

Nylon-$2$-nylon-$6$ is a biodegradable polymer, it is also hydrolytically unstable. So, the bonds are broken and hence, the molecular weight of the polymer is lost.
It has $-NH-CO-$ bond which is formed from by the removal of $H_{2}O$ molecule.
The below attached is PHBV.