BIOPOLYMERS

AND
BIOPLASTICS

Simranjeet Singh
B.Tech(Hons.) Bio Tech-MBA
WHAT ARE BIOPOLYMERS
AND BIOPLASTICS?
 Biopolymers are polymers which are
present in, or created by, living
organisms. These include the
molecules from renewable resources
that can be polymerized to create
bioplastics.
 Bioplastics are plastics
manufactured using biopolymers, and
are biodegradable.
Types of Biopolymers
There are two main types
of biopolymers:

1. That come from living

organisms.
2. That come from
renewable resources
but need to be
polymerized.
Biopolymers From Living
Organisms
Biopolymer Natural Source What is it?

Cellulose Wood, cotton, corn, wheat, and This polymer is made up of

others glucose. It is the main component
of plant cell walls.

Soy protein Soybeans Protein which naturally occurs in

the soy plant.

Starch Corn, potatoes, wheat, tapioca, This polymer is one way

and others carbohydrates are stored in plant
tissue. It is a polymer made up of
glucose. It is not found in animal
tissues.
Polyesters Bacteria These polyesters are created
through naturally occurring
chemical reactions that are carried
out by certain types of bacteria.
Polymerizable Molecules
Biopolymer Natural Source What is it?

Lactic Acid Beets, corn, potatoes, and others Produced through fermentation of
sugar feed stocks, such as beets,
and by converting starch in corn,
potatoes, or other starch sources.
It is polymerized to produce
polylactic acid -- a polymer that is
used to produce plastic.
Triglycerides Vegetable oils Vegetable oils are one possible
source of triglycerides that can be
polymerized into plastics.
How are Biopolymers and
Bioplastics Made?

1. Using Fermentation
to Produce Polymer-

 Bacterial Polyester
Fermentation- using
Ralstonia eutropha
 Lactic Acid
Fermentation
2. Growing Plastics in Plants -via

genetic engineering
Why Bioplastic?
 These days plastics are predominantly made
from crude oil
 In this context, renewable resources are
becoming a more viable and promising
alternative for the plastics industry
 When plastics made from petroleum are burned,
they release the carbon dioxide contained in the
petroleum into the atmosphere, leading to global
warming.
 The use of bioplastics offers significant
advantages not only in an ecological sense but
also in an economical sense.
 Bioplastics are derived from plant sources such
as sweet potatoes, sugarcane, hemp oil, soy
bean oil and corn starch.
 Bioplastics are environmentally friendly because,
compared with traditional plastics, their
production results in the emission of less carbon
dioxide.
 They are also biodegradable, meaning that the
material returns to its natural state when buried
in the ground.
Use of Bioplastic
 Bioplastics are already being used in
automobile interiors and in cases for
consumer electronics.
 Toyota Motor Corp. became the first
automaker in the world to use bioplastics in
the manufacture of auto parts, employing
them in the cover for the spare tire.
Used in Electronic Devices
 Mitsubishi Plastics has already succeeded in
raising the heat-resistance and strength of
polylactic acid by combining it with other
biodegradable plastics, and the result was used
to make the plastic casing of a new version of
Sony Corp.'s Walkman released.
 A mixture of polylactic acid and kenaf fiber that
is 20% fiber by weight allows for a plastic that is
strong enough and heat resistant enough to be
used in electronic goods.
Applications
Packaging
 For shopping bags
 After their initial use they can be
reused as bags for organic waste and
then be composted.
 Trays and containers for fruit,
vegetables, eggs and meat, bottles
for soft drinks and dairy products and
blister foils for fruit and vegetables
are also already widely manufactured
from bioplastics.
Catering products
 Disposable crockery and
cutlery, as well as pots
and bowls, pack foils for
hamburgers and straws
are being dumped after
a single use, together
with food-leftovers,
forming huge amounts
of waste, particularly at
big events.
Gardening

 Flower pots are made of

decomposable
bioplastics.
 Plant pots used for
flowering and vegetable
plants can be composted
along with gardening
and kitchen litter.
Medical Products

 In comparison to
packaging, catering or
gardening sectors, the
medical sector sets out
completely different
requirements with
regards to products
made of renewable
and reabsorbing
plastics.
Sanitary Products

 Foils made of soft

bioplastic are already
used as diaper foil, bed
underlay, for
incontinence products,
ladies sanitary products
and as disposable
gloves. 
Product of Bioplastic
Main Bioplastics and their
Manufacturers
BIOPOLYMERS MAJOR MANUFACTURERS

EcoPla Cargill Dow Polymers

Mater-Bi Nippon Gohsei

Lacea Mitsui Chemicals

Celgreen Daicel Chemical Industries

Bionolle Showa High Polymer

EnviroPlastic Nippon Shokubai

Polylactide acid (PLA) plastics Cereplast,Inc

Biopropylene 50 Cereplast, Inc

Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) South American sugar industry

Bioplastics And India

 Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI)

 Earthsoul (produces Mater-Bi)

 National Research Development Corporation of

India
Problems with Bioplastics
 Cost of Bioplastics

 Unawareness among
people

 Efficiency
Current Research Areas in
Biopolymers and Bioplastics

 Improving efficiency of
manufacturing process.

 Creating a plant that

can be used for food,
and also as feedstock
for plastic production.

 Making more economic.

Conclusion
Boiplastics are the
plastics of future because

 Reduce dependance
on fossil fuels.
 Save ecosystem.
 Limit the impacts of
plastic use.