Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify the biodegradable polymer from the given options. A biodegradable polymer is a polymer that can be decomposed by the action of living organisms, usually microbes, into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze each polymer:
(A) Nylon 6: It is a polyamide synthesized from the monomer caprolactam. It is a synthetic polymer and is non-biodegradable.
(B) Nylon 6,6: It is a polyamide synthesized from two monomers: hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid. It is also a synthetic polymer and is non-biodegradable.
(C) Nylon 2-nylon 6: It is a polyamide copolymer. It is synthesized from two different amino acid monomers: glycine (which has 2 carbon atoms) and aminocaproic acid (which has 6 carbon atoms). The presence of amide linkages that are similar to those in proteins makes it susceptible to microbial degradation. Therefore, it is a biodegradable polymer.
(D) HDP (High-Density Polyethylene): It is an addition polymer of ethene. It consists of long hydrocarbon chains and is very resistant to chemical and biological degradation, making it non-biodegradable.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Among the given options, Nylon 2-nylon 6 is the only biodegradable polymer.