RPP Polimer Alami-Ono Suparno -

Rekayasa Proses dan Produk Berbasis Polimer Alami

(TIN162B)

BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS

Ono Suparno

Program Studi Teknik Industri Pertanian

Sekolah Pascasarjana
Institut Pertanian Bogor
2023

What is a biodegradable
polymer?
§ A degradable polymer in which degradation
results from the action of naturally occurring
microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and
algae (American Society for Testing and
Materials/ASTM)

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§ A material where the organic fraction is

degraded to CO2 and water by the action of
naturally-occurring microorganisms (e.g.
bacteria, fungi, and algae), and/or the
naturally occurring process of hydrolysis,
without generating any toxic intermediates
and ultimately leaving non toxic or
environmentally harmful residues (European
Commission/EC)

RPP Polimer Alami (TIN162B) - Ono Suparno

Requirements to
biodegradation
§ Presence of microorganisms, such as fungi,
bacteria, and algae.
§ Presence of oxygen (not by anaerobic
fermentation), moisture, and minerals
§ Temperature between 20 and 60oC according
to the type of organism
§ pH-values of 5-8

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Types of biodegradable
polymers
1. Use and modification of biological
substances
2. Use of whole cells and enzymes for the
production of polyesters
3. Mimicking of natural substances
4. Biodegradable multi-phase (blend and filled
system) polymers

RPP Polimer Alami (TIN162B) - Ono Suparno

Use and modification of

biological substances

§ Thermoplastic starch; destructurized starch

à biodegradable thermoplastic polymer
§ Materials and fibres based on cellulose:
ú cotton, jute, flax, ramie
ú cellulose esters à plastics

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Use of whole cells and enzymes for

the production of polyesters

§ Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)

§ Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB)
§ Polysaccharides produced by whole cells and
enzymes (pullulan, gum xanthan)

RPP Polimer Alami (TIN162B) - Ono Suparno

Mimicking of natural
substances
§ Based on petroleum with vulnerable
functional susceptible groups to
hydrolytic attack by microorganisms
§ Biodegradation: presence of ester
groups within the backbone and
incorporation of polaric groups into
the side chain

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§ Polymers degraded via backbone hydrolysis:

Poly-(ethylene succinate), poly-(ethylene
glicol), poly-(tetramethylene glycol)
§ Biodegradable by enzymes:
Poly(caprolactone), linear poly(urethanes),
poly(esters), poly(amides)
§ Water soluble polymers: poly(vinylalcohols),
poly(carbonates), poly(acetals)

RPP Polimer Alami (TIN162B) - Ono Suparno

Biodegradable multi-phase
polymers

§ Biodegradable blends and filled

systems
ú Polymer blends based on destructurized
starch
à Blends destructurized starch (60%)
and ethylene-co-polymers

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Degradable plastic products

§ OXIUM plastic: PE + certain additive

materials (oxium) à accelerate cleavage of
polymer chains

§ ECOPLAS plastic: biocomposit of organic

material (pati) and synthetic polymer (PE)

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OXIUM

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ECOPLAS

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Degradation of a polymer à
breakdown of chains, releasing of
low molecular byproducts, chemical
changes

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Thank you for your attention

Selamat belajar dan berkarya

ono.suparno@apps.ipb.ac.id
www.osuparno.com

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