Have you ever felt guilty throwing away a plastic cup or plate because “it’s going to be in the landfill forever” or do you wonder how the products we use everyday are made and that process’s impact on the environment? Well new research into the development of bioplastics may free you from that guilt. Instead of creating them from polymers that are petroleum-based, renewable sources such as corn starch, vegetable fats and oils, microbiota (bacteria and fungi) and pea starch. These biomass-based products can be made to be both degradable and non-degradable.
One of the most-well known starch-based bioplastics is Plastarch Material (PSM) which is able to handle high temperatures and absorbs humidity which makes it a good material for drug capsules. Bacteria incubated with glucose, corn starch and wastewater create a polyester biopolymer called poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and its chemical properties are similar to polypropylene. A biopolymer made from oil, called Polyamide 11 (PA 11), and is made to be similar to PA12 with less greenhouse gases emitted and conventional energy sources consumed. It is also is more resistant to temperature than its petroleum-based counterpart.
Bio-derived polyethylene which is made by fermenting sugar cane and corn is identical to the conventionally made chemical of the same name but can be recycled. It is not biodegradable but one ton less of CO2 is released during the process of making the bio-derived form. Celluloid is derived from cellulose-based bioplastics which comes from grasses, woody plants and corn stalks reduce the use of the chemicals and more bioplastic is actually generated from these sources.
Biodegradable bioplastics are typically used to making packaging for food products, disposable dishes and utensils and organic garbage bags. The advantage of these products being biodegradable is that they can be added to the compost. For those products that do not biodegrade in the landfill such as cell phone cases, piping products and carpeting, they appeal to those who want to use products made from sustainable resources.
One drawback is that using corn feed to make bioplastics increases the use of fertilizers and pesticides, land is being converted to grow the corn feed, and the process of making the plastics. But as technology advances and organic farming increases, bioplastics will be produced in a way that minimizes the environmental impact on the land and in the manufacturing process. Maybe someday your computer, tv and other electronics we use daily will be mainly composed of plastics that are more friendly to the environment.
One of the most-well known starch-based bioplastics is Plastarch Material (PSM) which is able to handle high temperatures and absorbs humidity which makes it a good material for drug capsules. Bacteria incubated with glucose, corn starch and wastewater create a polyester biopolymer called poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and its chemical properties are similar to polypropylene. A biopolymer made from oil, called Polyamide 11 (PA 11), and is made to be similar to PA12 with less greenhouse gases emitted and conventional energy sources consumed. It is also is more resistant to temperature than its petroleum-based counterpart.
Bio-derived polyethylene which is made by fermenting sugar cane and corn is identical to the conventionally made chemical of the same name but can be recycled. It is not biodegradable but one ton less of CO2 is released during the process of making the bio-derived form. Celluloid is derived from cellulose-based bioplastics which comes from grasses, woody plants and corn stalks reduce the use of the chemicals and more bioplastic is actually generated from these sources.
Biodegradable bioplastics are typically used to making packaging for food products, disposable dishes and utensils and organic garbage bags. The advantage of these products being biodegradable is that they can be added to the compost. For those products that do not biodegrade in the landfill such as cell phone cases, piping products and carpeting, they appeal to those who want to use products made from sustainable resources.
One drawback is that using corn feed to make bioplastics increases the use of fertilizers and pesticides, land is being converted to grow the corn feed, and the process of making the plastics. But as technology advances and organic farming increases, bioplastics will be produced in a way that minimizes the environmental impact on the land and in the manufacturing process. Maybe someday your computer, tv and other electronics we use daily will be mainly composed of plastics that are more friendly to the environment.
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