Marine-Derived Biodegradable Polymers for Cold-Water Marine Pollution

Abstract

Marine plastic pollution persists as a global environmental crisis, particularly in cold-water marine environments where low temperatures significantly inhibit the degradation of most commercial biodegradable plastics. Conventional polymers such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) accumulate for decades, fragmenting into microplastics that permeate marine ecosystems from coastal zones to polar and deep-sea regions. Although biodegradable polymers have been proposed as an alternative, many widely used materials, including polylactic acid (PLA), exhibit negligible degradation in cold seawater. This study experimentally evaluates the degradation and solubility behavior of selected marine-derived biodegradable polymers under cold-water marine conditions, with a specific focus on temperature-dependent mechanisms. Emphasis is placed on comparative performance among candidate polymers, including marine-derived polysaccharides and microbially produced polyhydroxyalkanoates, as well as emerging supramolecular systems designed for rapid dissolution in seawater. By integrating experimental observations with insights from marine microbiology, polymer chemistry, and material design, this study identifies key pathways and design principles for developing polymers that remain effective in cold marine environments, contributing to the development of environmentally benign plastic alternatives