Bio‐based and biodegradable plastics
The terms bio‐based plastics and biodegradable plastics are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Bio‐based plastics derive from non‐petroleum biological resources. Biodegradable plastics degrade via exposure to naturally occurring microbes and may be bio‐based or made from petroleum.
Bio‐based plastics
https://www.plasticseurope.org/en/about-plastics/what-are-plastics/large-family/bio-based-plastics
This review article discussed starch blends, poly‐lactic acid, bio‐polyethylene terephthalate, bio‐polyethylene and polymers from bio‐based succinic acid.
Bioplastic
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioplastic
This Wikipedia entry provides a fairly comprehensive overview of bio‐based plastics.
Are bioplastics better for the environment
https://ensia.com/features/bioplastics-bio-based-biodegradable-environment/
This article provides a good overview of the source and production of bioplastics, and it also considers marketability of these materials.
Bio‐based and compostable plastics
https://www.organixsolutions.com/compostable-bioplastics
This post describes both bio‐based and compostable (biodegradable) polymers. For example, the carbon in bio‐based plastics such as poly‐lactic acid is typically derived from corn starch. There are examples of petroleum based polymers that are biodegradable.
Why is there a delay to use bio‐based plastics
One highlight of this article is reference to a new market study on bio‐based polymers. Fundamentally, bio‐based polymers have not seen very widespread use due to cost and lack of manufacturing scale.
Types of biodegradable plastic
https://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Type_of_Biodegradable_Plastic
This popular press type article gives an excellent description of a range of biodegradable polymers.
Designing bio‐based recyclable polymers
https://www.cell.com/trends/biotechnology/fulltext/S0167-7799(19)30089-7
This review article describes multiple bio‐based polymers and the role of microbial cells and enzymes in the production and recycling of polymers.
Bioplastics: Markets and developments
https://www.labiotech.eu/features/bioplastics-2019-feature/
This article focuses on the total market for plastics, and the increment of bioplastics, both currently and in projected years.
Bio‐based plastics with insect‐repellent functionality
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/pen.25083
This paper describes a method for extrusion or spray coating of natural and synthetic insect repellents into poly‐lactic acid fibres.
Bio‐based polymers: Department of Energy
https://www.energy.gov/eere/amo/plastics-or-fibers-bio-based-polymers
This page focuses on the energy and carbon emissions savings that can be attributed to the use of bio‐based polymers such as polylactic acid.
A new industrial revolution for plastics
https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2018/09/19/new-industrial-revolution-plastics
This optimistic article discussed the potential for increases in bio‐based plastics. It posits that the global bioplastic packaging market is anticipated to grow at a rate of 18% between 2017‐2025.
Advances in biodegradable polymers: Special issue
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules/special_issues/Biodegradable_Polymers
This link is to a special issue of the journal Molecules, focused entirely on different aspects of ‘Advances in Biodegradable Polymers’.
Durability of biodegradable polymers
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmats.2019.00151/full
This article specifically focuses on the use of biodegradable polymers for applications in conservation of cultural heritage materials.
Biodegradable polymers and their biomedical applications
https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/epoly.2019.19.issue-1/epoly-2019-0041/epoly-2019-0041.xml
Biodegradable polymers have important applications for controlled delivery of drugs, or in sutures where only limited material lifetime is desirable.
Cyclopropenium‐based biodegradable polymers
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.macromol.9b00430
Cyclopropenium‐based biodegradable polymers are useful cationic polymers that traditionally have not been viewed as biodegradable. The current report describes the synthesis of biodegradable members of this class.
Biodegradable polymers list of high impact articles
http://www.imedpub.com/scholarly/biodegradable-polymers-journals-articles-ppts-list.php
This webpage provides a compendium of recent journal articles related to biodegradable polymers.
Center for Sustainable Polymers
The Center for Sustainable Polymers is funded by the United States National Science Foundation and is committed to research, education and public outreach related to the sustainable production and use of polymeric materials.
Microbial Biotechnology (2019) 12(6), 1492–1493