depolymerized
Polymer bonds severed
Depolymerized describes a substance that has been broken down from a polymer into its smaller component molecules.
Polymers are long chains of repeating molecular units; depolymerization reverses this, yielding monomers or shorter chains.
The term appears in chemistry, materials science, and biochemistry: depolymerized starch, depolymerized hyaluronic acid.
The plastic was depolymerized for recycling.
Single molecular units
- feedstockUnprocessed manufacturing input
- naphthaVolatile petroleum-derived solvent
- dimersTwo-part molecular compounds
- precursorsThings preceding others
Water-induced bond cleavage
- glycolysisGlucose metabolism producing ATP
- pyrolysisHeat-driven molecular breakdown
- crackingBreaking without separating completely
- catalyticPromoting change unchanged
thermal · enzymatic · degradation · oxidation · cleavage · breakdown · fragmentation · alkaline
System with feedback control
- reclaimTake back possession
- reprocessTreat used material again
- sustainabilityCapacity to endure indefinitely
- upcycleCreatively reuse discarded materials
Nuclear medicine imaging
- polyethyleneThermoplastic from ethylene gas
- polystyreneLightweight synthetic foam plastic
- polycarbonateStrong transparent synthetic polymer
- nylonSynthetic textile polymer
PVC · polyurethane · polyamide · resins · polymers · thermoplastics · bioplastics · additives
Microbial breakdown of organics
- enzymesReaction-speeding proteins
- microorganismsMicroscopic living entities
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
composting · biocatalysts · lipase · microbial · digestion
monomers
Single molecular units
hydrolysis
Water-induced bond cleavage
- glycolysisGlucose metabolism producing ATP
- pyrolysisHeat-driven molecular breakdown
- crackingBreaking without separating completely
catalytic · thermal · enzymatic · degradation · oxidation · cleavage · breakdown · fragmentation · alkaline · photodegradation
closed-loop
System with feedback control
- reclaimTake back possession
- reprocessTreat used material again
- sustainabilityCapacity to endure indefinitely
upcycle · recovery · remanufacture · regenerate · reintegrate
PET
Nuclear medicine imaging
- polyethyleneThermoplastic from ethylene gas
- polystyreneLightweight synthetic foam plastic
- polycarbonateStrong transparent synthetic polymer
nylon · PVC · polyurethane · polyamide · resins · polymers · thermoplastics · bioplastics · additives
biodegradation
Microbial breakdown of organics
- enzymesReaction-speeding proteins
- microorganismsMicroscopic living entities
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
fungi · composting · biocatalysts · lipase · microbial · digestion
depolymerizedpolymerized
Chemically joined into chains
polymerised · polymeric · cross-linked · intact · unbroken