Biobased Biodegradable Polymers for Ecological Applications: A Move Towards Manufacturing Sustainable Biodegradable Plastic Products

2019 ◽  
pp. 215-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudhakar Muniyasamy ◽  
Sudhakar Muniyasamy ◽  
Kulanthaisamy Mohanrasu ◽  
Kulanthaisamy Mohanrasu ◽  
Abongile Gada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biodegradable Polymers ◽  
Biodegradable Plastic ◽  
Ecological Applications ◽  
Plastic Products

scholarly journals Advanced and Versatile Lignin-Derived Biodegradable Composite Film Materials Toward a Sustainable World

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanmin Wang ◽  
Tong-Qi Yuan ◽  
Guoyong Song ◽  
Runcang Sun
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Composite Film ◽  
Biodegradable Plastic ◽  
Biodegradable Composite ◽  
Alternative Materials ◽  
Ecological Problems ◽  
Plastic Products

The excessive use of petroleum-based non-biodegradable plastic products has resulted in severe environmental pollution and ecological problems, which has stimulated the development of biodegradable and renewable alternative materials. Lignin, as...

scholarly journals Effect of Mineral Fillers on the Mechanical Properties of Commercially Available Biodegradable Polymers

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 394
Author(s):  
Wouter Post ◽  
Lambertus J. Kuijpers ◽  
Martin Zijlstra ◽  
Maarten van der Zee ◽  
Karin Molenveld
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Biodegradable Polymers ◽  
Plastic Material ◽  
Impact Resistance ◽  
Plastic Materials ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Polybutylene Succinate ◽  
Mineral Fillers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Plastic Products

In the successful transition towards a circular materials economy, the implementation of biobased and biodegradable plastics is a major prerequisite. To prevent the accumulation of plastic material in the open environment, plastic products should be both recyclable and biodegradable. Research and development actions in the past few decades have led to the commercial availability of a number of polymers that fulfil both end-of-life routes. However, these biobased and biodegradable polymers typically have mechanical properties that are not on par with the non-biodegradable plastic products they intend to replace. This can be improved using particulate mineral fillers such as talc, calcium carbonate, kaolin, and mica. This study shows that composites thereof with polybutylene succinate (PBS), polyhydroxybutyrate-hexanoate (PHBH), polybutylene succinate adipate (PBSA), and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) as matrix polymers result in plastic materials with mechanical properties ranging from tough elastic towards strong and rigid. It is demonstrated that the balance between the Young’s modulus and the impact resistance for this set of polymer composites is subtle, but a select number of investigated compositions yield a combination of industrially relevant mechanical characteristics. Finally, it is shown that the inclusion of mineral fillers into biodegradable polymers does not negate the microbial disintegration of these polymers, although the nature of the filler does affect the biodegradation rate of the matrix polymer.

scholarly journals Not Only Diamonds Are Forever: Degradation of Plastic Films in a Simulated Marine Environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Catarci Carteny ◽  
Ronny Blust
Keyword(s):  
Biodegradable Polymers ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Biodegradable Plastic ◽  
Biodegradable Films ◽  
Coastal Environments ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Plastic Films ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
Pollution Problem ◽  
Temperature And Pressure

In recent years, biodegradable polymers have been hailed as one of the potential solutions to the plastic pollution problem, due to their ability to fully degrade rather than break down in smaller pieces over time. However, complete degradation of biodegradable polymers is often achievable only under strictly controlled conditions (i.e. increased temperature and pressure), which are not found in the natural environment – particularly in aquatic and marine habitats. This study aims to compare the degradation performance of plastic films made of two different biodegradable polymers – polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) – to that of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films, in a simulated marine environment. Plastic films of the three chosen polymers, of equal dimensions, were exposed to natural sunlight within a novel setup - which simulated the sea surface - for six months. Films were chosen as they are among the most frequently reported type of plastic litter in coastal environments worldwide, and because of the increasing adoption on the market of biodegradable films for packaging. Results showed that, after six months, no consistent degradation could be observed on any of the films–not even the biodegradable ones. Between PLA and PHA films, the latter weathered slightly more than the former, but not at a significant level. Interestingly, differences were reported among the different polymer films in terms of type and extent of biofouling, brittleness, surface charge and surface microstructural changes. Overall, this work suggests that biodegradable plastic behaves rather similarly to traditional plastic in the marine environment over a half-year span. Albeit further experiments on even longer timescales are needed, this study provides evidence that, unless properly disposed of in an industrial composter facility, biodegradable plastic may only contribute to the very problem it was intended to solve.

Assessment of the Degradability of Commercially-Available Biodegradable Plastic Utensils in Soil and UV

2019 ◽  
Vol 821 ◽  
pp. 359-365
Author(s):  
Karl Vincent N. Alvarez ◽  
Regina Mae V. Bulaong ◽  
Eloisa Nher A. Hipolito ◽  
Jonard Jairo P. Reyes ◽  
Astrid Ayla E. Liberato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Biodegradable Plastic ◽  
Soil Incubation ◽  
Complete Decomposition ◽  
High Propensity ◽  
Degradation Time ◽  
Absorbance Spectra ◽  
Plastic Products

Biodegradable plastics are viewed as one of the most promising solutions to plastic waste dilemma due to its natural degradative properties. Fossil fuel-based polymers have been infused with bio-based additives (e.g. starch) and have been used to produce biodegradable plastic products such as bags and cutleries. While several studies have dealt with degradation of polymers with bio-based additives, there is work yet to be done on degradation of commercially-available biodegradable plastic products. Here we evaluate degradability upon exposure to soil incubation and UV of three common starch-based plastic utensil brands in the Philippines that claim biodegradability. Analysis of IR absorbance spectra of post-exposure samples indicated high propensity towards photodegradation. Furthermore, estimation of full degradation period confirmed the biodegradability of starch-amended plastics which were limited to two brands. The presence of 19.22% and 24.18% starch in the plastic showed complete decomposition period of 156 and 92 days, respectively. This is a significant improvement over poor degradability exhibited by conventional plastics which often takes 450 to 1000 years. The reduction of degradation time through starch incorporation may prove to benefit manufacturers in fabricating more environmentally-friendly plastic products in the future.

Lipospheres: Emerging Carriers in the Delivery of Proteins and Peptides

1970 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-214
Author(s):  
Manju Rawat ◽  
Swarnlata Saraf
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Protein Stability ◽  
Biodegradable Polymers ◽  
Clinical Utility ◽  
Physicochemical Characteristics ◽  
Peptide Delivery ◽  
Chemical Instabilities ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
Proteins And Peptides

Currently, drug delivery technologies for protein and peptide delivery mainly rely on biodegradable polymers. However, protein stability during release from these systems can be critical due to physical and chemical instabilities. Lipospheres are solid microparticles composed of fat core stabilized by phospholipids layer represent an alternative carrier for the delivery of highly challenging, labile and unstable  substances. This review highlights various aspects of lipospheres like physicochemical characteristics and stability for better clinical utility with a wider spectrum of proteins and peptides.

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