Editing Polyethylene (section)

===Biodegradability===
Several experiments have been conducted aimed at discovering [[enzyme]] or organisms that will degrade polyethylene. Several plastics - polyesters, polycarbonates, polyamides - degrade either by hydrolysis or air oxidation.  In some cases the degradation is increased by bacteria or various enzyme cocktails.  The situation is very different with polymers where the backbone consists solely of C-C bonds.  These polymers include polyethylene, but also polypropylene, polystyrene and acrylates.  At best, these polymers degrade very slowly, but these experiments are difficult because yields and rates are very slow.<ref name= Enzyme>{{cite journal |doi=10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00644 |title=Enzymes' Power for Plastics Degradation |date=2023 |last1=Tournier |first1=Vincent |last2=Duquesne |first2=Sophie |last3=Guillamot |first3=Frédérique |last4=Cramail |first4=Henri |last5=Taton |first5=Daniel |last6=Marty |first6=Alain |last7=André |first7=Isabelle |journal=Chemical Reviews |volume=123 |issue=9 |pages=5612–5701 |pmid=36916764 |url=https://hal.science/hal-04150645/file/Andre_Chemical_Reviews_HAL.pdf }}</ref> Further confusing the situation, even preliminary successes are greeted with enthusiasm by the popular press.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/natur/forscherin-entdeckt-zufaellig-plastik-fressende-raupe-a-1144619.html | title=Forscherin entdeckt zufällig Plastik-fressende Raupe| magazine=[[Der Spiegel]]| language=de |date=24 April 2017 |access-date=24 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=BBC News|author=Briggs, Helen |title=Plastic-eating caterpillar could munch waste, scientists say|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-39694553|access-date=24 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://woohooreport.com/2009/09/wci-student-isolates-microbe-that-lunches-on-plastic-bags/ |publisher=The Record.com |title=CanadaWorld – WCI student isolates microbe that lunches on plastic bags |access-date=2014-02-20 |author-first1=Karen|author-last1=Kawawada|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718081923/http://woohooreport.com/2009/09/wci-student-isolates-microbe-that-lunches-on-plastic-bags/ |archive-date=18 July 2011}}</ref> Some technical challenges in this area include the failure to identify enzymes responsible for the proposed degradation.  Another issue is that organisms are incapable of importing hydrocarbons of molecular weight greater than 500.<ref name= Enzyme/>