Thanks to the University of Minnesota for sponsoring this video! http://twin-cities.umn.edu/
Thanks also to our Patreon patrons https://www.patreon.com/MinuteEarth and our YouTube sponsors.
___________________________________________
To learn more, start your googling with these keywords:
Polymer: A substance whose molecular structure consists of large numbers of similar units covalently bonded together
Covalent bond: A strong type of bond in which adjacent atoms share electrons.
Backbone chain: A long series of covalently bonded atoms that create the continuous chain of the molecule.
Bioplastic: A type of plastic, usually biodegradable, made from biological substances.
Scission: The breakage of a backbone chain at the bond level.
Microbial biodegradation: The use of microbes to break molecules into smaller and less harmful forms.
___________________________________________
Subscribe to MinuteEarth on YouTube: http://goo.gl/EpIDGd
Support us on Patreon: https://goo.gl/ZVgLQZ
And visit our website: https://www.minuteearth.com/
Say hello on Facebook: http://goo.gl/FpAvo6
And Twitter: http://goo.gl/Y1aWVC
And download our videos on itunes: https://goo.gl/sfwS6n
___________________________________________
Credits (and Twitter handles):
Script Writer: David Goldenberg (@dgoldenberg)
Script Editor: Kate Yoshida (@KateYoshida)
Video Illustrator: Arcadi Garcia
Video Director: Emily Elert (@eelert)
Video Narrator: Emily Elert (@eelert)
With Contributions From: Henry Reich, Alex Reich, Ever Salazar, Peter Reich
Music by: Nathaniel Schroeder: http://www.soundcloud.com/drschroeder
___________________________________________
Image Credits:
Disposable plastic cup – Wikimedia user Lionel Allorge
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tasse_Plastique_Air_France_1.jpg
Sandbox and Beach Toys – The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Childrens_Museum_of_Indianapolis_-_Sandbox_and_Beach_Toys.jpg
PET plastic – Montgomery County Division of Solid Waste Services
LEGO Tank – Flickr user MaxFragg
PVC Pipe – Pam Broviak
IKEA Watering cans – Sonny Abesamis
LEGO Figure – Marco Verch
Wetsuit – Clemens Pfeiffer
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shorty-wetsuit-O%27Neill.jpg
White PVC Pipes – Teresa Trimm
Saran Wrap – Wikimedia user Kakura
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saran_Wrap_02.JPG
STS-120 Shuttle Mission Imagery – NASA
https://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-120/html/sts120-s-028.html
Providing clean water – UK Department for International Development
___________________________________________
References:
Albertsson, A. and Hakkarainen, M. (2017). Designed To Degrade. Science. 358 (6365). 872-873. Retrieved from: http://science.sciencemag.org/content/358/6365/872
De Hoe, G., Zumstein, M., Tiegs, B., Brutman, J., McNeill, K., Sander, M., Coates, G., and Hillmyer, M. (2018). Sustainable Polyester Elastomers from Lactones: Synthesis,Properties, and Enzymatic Hydrolyzability. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 140: 963-973. Retrieved from: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.7b10173
Tokiwa, Y., Calabia, B., Ugwu, C., and Aiba, S. (2009). Biodegradability of Plastics. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 10: 3722-3742. Retrieved from: http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/10/9/3722
Rydz, J., ,Sikorska, W., Kyulavska, M., and Christova, D. (2015). International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 16: 564-596. Retrieved from: http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/16/1/564
Hillmyer, M. (2017). The Promise of Plastics from Plants. Science. 358 (6365). 868-870. Retrieved from: http://science.sciencemag.org/content/358/6365/868
Hillmyer, M. (2017). Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota. Personal Communication.