Bioplastics A Natural Gift

 

Bioplastics may be called natural plastics since it is produced from renewable resources like vegetable oils, starches, straw, waste wood dust, and waste food product. Conventional plastic is produced from fossil fuels like Naphtha/Crude oil, Natural gas/Methane, and Coal/Syn Gas which are generally non-biodegradable and causes pollution and adverse effect on Green Mother Earth. 

The impact associated with the above-said fossil plastics which are known as Conventional Plastics is Environmental Pollution, Waste Accumulation, Microplastic contamination, Disruption of Ecosystems, and Resource Depletion.

Bioplastics are biodegradable since it is extracted from plant sources. Therefore, it is considered an eco-friendlier and more suitable alternative to fossil plastics. According to CGAR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) rating the global bioplastics market size is estimated at USD 11,610.5 million in 2022 and will have an expected expansion of 18.8 % between 2023 and 2030. The good sign of raising the use of bioplastics will reduce the reliance on Fossil Plastics.

Bioplastics are classified as bio-based and biodegradable. The plant sources material like corn starch, vegetable oils, sugarcane, or straw are converted into polymers through multiple processes to produce plastic-like materials.

The four types of bioplastics are Starch, Cellulose, Protein, Organic, and Aliphatic Polyesters. The French Researcher Maurice Lemoigne discovered bioplastics in the year 1920 from his work with the bacterium Bacillus megaterium. These composite products are produced through thermal-mechanical methods such as compression molding.

Bioplastics are made from biodegradable polymers known as Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). PHAs belong to the family of biodegradable polymers which are synthesized through bacterial fermentation. The microorganisms as intracellular storage compounds that convert carbon sources in starch, sugar, or lipids into PHAs.  The variation in carbon sources and the type of microorganisms used in the fermentation process decided the type of bioplastics.

PHAs can be biodegradable in various environments that include soil, fresh water, and marine environments.

Bioplastics are now used in packaging containers, medical implants, 3D printing, car casings, straws, plastic piping, and bags.

Bioplastics produce significantly less greenhouse gas emissions compared with Fossil plastics.  Plants grown for the purpose of bioplastics will absorb the carbon dioxide released during their breakdown. A US study in 2017 reported that the switch from fossil plastics to PHAs will reduce US green gas emissions by 25 %.

Here are a few books about bioplastics:

1. James Thompson's "Bioplastics: A Home Inventors Handbook": This book introduces bioplastics and includes practical advice for innovators, and anyone interested in making their own bioplastics at home. It discusses several bioplastic recipes and manufacturing processes.
2. Susheel Kalia, Luc Averous, and Philippe Dubois' book "Bioplastics: Materials, Properties, and Applications": This thorough book investigates the area of bioplastics from both a scientific and technical standpoint. It discusses the many forms of bioplastics, their qualities, processing methods, and uses in a variety of sectors.
3. Martin Koller's "Bioplastics: Design, Synthesis, and Application": This book presents an overview of bioplastics, covering their design, production, and use in many domains. It covers a variety of topics related to bioplastic manufacture, such as raw materials, processing methods, and the environmental effect of bioplastics.
4. Stephan Kabasci's "Bioplastics: An Introduction": This introductory book covers the history, kinds, characteristics, processing processes, and uses of bioplastics. It investigates the possibility of bioplastics as long-term replacements to conventional plastics.
5. Michael Niaounakis edited "Biopolymers: Processing and Products": While this book is not primarily on bioplastics, it does cover a wide spectrum of biopolymers, including bioplastics. It goes through their processing methods, characteristics, and uses in a variety of sectors.

These publications provide insights into the world of bioplastics, covering subjects such as manufacturing processes, qualities, applications, and sustainability. They can be useful resources for anybody interested in the science and practical uses of bioplastics.

Love for Mother Earth, we will jump to the conclusion that plastics will remain with us in the form of bioplastics to make our life comfortable.

Are all Bioplastics biodegradable? Is Bioplastics an alternative to Fossil plastics?

Do Bioplastics pollute our earth?

Subscribe to our blog to find the answers and to know our life needs with Green Chemistry.