Biopolymers. Utilizing Nature's Advanced Materials

Content: Natural polymers as advanced materials : some research needs and directions / R.L. Shogren and E.B. Bagley -- Processing and characterization of biodegradable products based on starch and cellulose fibers / W.J. Bergthaller, U. Funke, M.G. Lindhauer, S. Radosta, F. Meister, and E. Taeger -- Nanocomposite materials of thermoplastic polymers reinforced by polysaccharide / A. Dufresne and J.Y. Cavaillé -- Thermochemical processes for derivatization of starches with different amylose content / R.E. Wing and J.L. Willett -- Thermo-mechanical behavior of polyethylene reinforced by ligno-cellulosic fillers / N. Bahlouli, J.Y. Cavaillé, M. García-Ramirez, and A. Camara -- Characterization of plasticized and mixed long-chain fatty cellulose esters / P. Wang and B.Y. Tao -- Alkali induced polymorphic changes of chitin / J. Li, J.-F. Revol, and R.H. Marchessault -- ¹³C NMR quantitative techniques for monitoring and characterizing biodegradable, biocompatible thermoplastics produced by bacteria : using ¹³C NMR to monitor and characterize poly([beta]-hydroxyalkanoates) in living cells and in solution / Sheila Ewing Browne -- Enzymology of the synthesis and degradation of polyhydroxyalkanoates / Geoffrey A.R. Nobes and Robert H. Marchessault -- Yeast [beta]-glucosidases and the saccharification of cellulosic biomass / S.N. Freer, C.D. Skory, and R.J. Bothast -- Enzymology of xylan degradation / Badal C. Saha and Rodney J. Bothast -- Extruded plastics containing starch and chitin : physical properties and evaluation of biodegradability / K.A. Niño, S.H. Imam, S.H. Gordon, and L.J.G. Wong -- Natural systems for better bioremediation : isolation and characterization of a phenanthrene-utilizing strain of Alteromonas from Guayanilla coastal water southwest of Puerto Rico / Baqar R. Zaidi, Syed H. Imam, and Richard V. Greene -- Microbial degradation of a poly(lactic acid) as a model of synthetic polymer degradation mechanisms in outdoor conditions / A. Torres, S.M. Li, S. Roussos, and M. Vert -- Membranes of cellulose derivatives as supports for immobilization of enzymes / R. Lagoa, D. Murtinho, and M.H. Gil -- Reducing soil erosion losses with small applications of biopolymers / William J. Orts and Gregory M. Glenn -- Two food applications of biopolymers : edible coatings controlling microbial surface spoilage and chitosan use to recover proteins from aqueous processing wastes / J.A. Torres, C. Dewitt-Mireles, and V. Savant -- Effect of biopolymers on the formation, drying kinetics, and flavor retention of tamarind (Tamarindus indica) foam-mats / H. Romero-Tehuitzil, E.J. Vernon-Carter, M.G. Vizcarra-Mendoza, and C.I. Beristaín.