It is completely plausible that unmodified materials of natural origin, such as the native macromolecules cellulose or starch, are biodegradable. If these materials are modified then degradation may, depending on the degree of modification, be more difficult or even impossible. In the same manner synthesized macromolecules, whether from renewable or petrochemical sources, could be inert or completey biodegradable, depending on their chemical structure.
Völlig plausibel ist es, daß aus der Natur stammende und unveränderte Stoffe wie die nativen Makromoleküle Cellulose und Stärke biologisch abbaubar sind. Werden diese Stoffe modifiziert, so kann, abhängig vom Grad dieser Veränderung, der Abbau erschwert bis verhindert werden. Auch synthetisierte Makromoleküle, ob auf Basis nachwachsender oder fossiler Rohstoffe, können – je nach ihrer chemischen Struktur – inert bis vollständig biologisch abbaubar sein.
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