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Contents

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Bioplastics and biodegradation Environment impact reduction Performance and usage Recycling Modified bioplastics Market Applications Plastics types Biopolymers and bioplastics Fermentation Current research Bioplastics Second life for bioplastics Abstract

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Bioplastics (also called organic plastics ) are a form of plastics derived fromrenewable biomass sources, such as vegetable oil, corn starch , pea starch ormicrobiota , rather than fossil fuel plastics which are derived frompetroleum .

Bioplastics and biodegradation

The terminology used in the bioplastics sector is sometimes misleading. Mostin the industry use the term bioplastic to mean a plastic produced from abiological source. One of the oldest plastics, cellulose film, is made fromwood cellulose. All (bio- and petroleum-based) plastics are technicallybiodegradable , meaning they can be degraded by microbes under suitableconditions. However many degrade at such slow rates as to be considerednon-biodegradable. Somepetrochemical-based plastics are consideredbiodegradable, and may be used as an additive to improve the performanceof many commercial bioplastics.Non-biodegradable bioplastics are referredto as durable. The degree of biodegradation varies with temperature,polymer stability, and available oxygen content. Consequently, mostbioplastics will only degrade in the tightly controlled conditions ofcommercial composting units. An internationally agreed standard, EN13432,defines how quickly and to what extent a plastic must be degraded undercommercial composting conditions for it to be called biodegradable. This ispublished by the International Organization for Standardization ISO and isrecognised in many countries, including all of Europe, Japan and the US.However, it is designed only for the aggressive conditions of commercialcomposting units. There is no standard applicable to home compostingconditions.

The term "biodegradable plastic" is often also used by producers of speciallymodified petrochemical-based plastics which appear tobiodegrade.Traditional plastics such as polyethylene are degraded by ultra-violet (UV) light and oxygen. To prevent this process manufacturers add

stabilising chemicals. However with the addition of a degradation initiator tothe plastic, it is possible to achieve a controlled UV/ oxidation disintegrationprocess. This type of plastic may be referred to as degradable plastic oroxy-degradable plastic or photodegradable plastic because the process isnot initiated by microbial action. While some degradable plasticsmanufacturers argue that degraded plastic residue will be attacked by

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microbes, these degradable materials do not meet the requirements of theEN13432 commercial composting standard.

Environmental impact reduction

The production and use of bioplastics is generally regarded as a moresustainable activity when compared with plastic production from petroleum(petroplastic), because it relies less on fossil fuel as a carbon source andalso introduces less, net-new greenhouse emissions if it biodegrades. Theysignificantly reduce hazardous waste caused by oil-derived plastics, whichremain solid for hundreds of years, and open a new era in packing technologyand industry .

However, manufacturing of bioplastic materials is often still reliant uponpetroleum as an energy and materials source. This comes in the form ofenergy required to power farm machinery and irrigate growing crops, toproduce fertilisers and pesticides, to transport crops and crop products toprocessing plants, to process raw materials, and ultimately to produce thebioplastic. Although renewable energy can be used to obtain petroleumindependence.

Italian bioplastic manufacturer Novamont states in its own environmentalaudit that producing one kilogram of its starch-based product uses 500g of

petroleum and consumes almost 80% of the energy required to produce atraditional polyethylene polymer. Environmental data from NatureWorks theonly commercial manufacturer of PLA ( polylactic acid ) bioplastic, says thatmaking its plastic material delivers a fossil fuel saving of between 25 and 68per cent compared with polyethylene, in part due to its purchasing ofrenewable energy certificates for its manufacturing plant.

A detailed study examining the process of manufacturing a number ofcommon packaging items in several traditional plastics and polylactic acid carried out by US-group and published by the Athena Institute shows thebioplastic to be less environmentally damaging for some products, but moreenvironmentally damaging for others.

While production of most bioplastics results in reduced carbon dioxideemissions compared to traditional alternatives, there are some real concernsthat the creation of a global bioeconomy could contribute to an accelerated

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rate of deforestation if not managed effectively. There are associatedconcerns over the impact on water supply and soil erosion.

Other studies showed that bioplastics represent a 42% reduction in carbon

footprint .On the other hand, bioplastic can be made from agricultural byproducts andalso from used plastic bottles and other containers using microorganisms.

Cost

With the exception of cellulose, most bioplastic technology is relatively newand is currently not cost competitive with petroleum-based plastics(petroplastics). They do not reach the fossil fuel parity. Many bioplastics are

reliant on fossil fuel -derived energy for their manufacturing, reducing thecost advantage over petroleum-based plastic.

Performance and usage

Many bioplastics lack the performance and ease of processing of traditionalmaterials. Polylactic acid plastic is being used by a handful of smallcompanies for water bottles. But shelf life is limited because the plastic ispermeable to water - the bottles lose their contents and slowly deformHowever, bioplastics are seeing some use in Europe, where they account for60% of the biodegradable materials market. The most common end usemarket is for packaging materials. Japan has also been a pioneer inbioplastics, incorporating them into electronics and automobiles.

Recycling

There are also fears that bioplastics will damage existing recycling projects.Packaging such as HDPE milk bottles and PET water and soft drinks bottlesis easily identified and hence setting up a recycling infrastructure has been

quite successful in many parts of the world. Polylactic acid and PET do notmix - as bottles made from polylactic acid cannot be distinguished from PET bottles by the consumer there is a risk that recycled PET could be renderedunusable. This could be overcome by ensuring distinctive bottle types or byinvesting in suitable sorting technology. However, the first route isunreliable and the second costly.

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Genetically modified bioplastics

Genetic modification (GM) is also a challenge for the bioplastics industry.None of the currently available bioplastics - which can be considered first

generation products - require the use of GM crops. However, it is notpossible to ensure corn used to make bioplastic in North America is GM-free.

European consumers are hostile to any products that are linked to the GMindustry. As a result, some UK retailers such as Sainsbury's will not usebioplastic manufactured in the US, such as Natureworks polylactic acid.

There is also concern that the route from corn to bioplastics is not the mostefficient. Looking further ahead, some of the second generation bioplasticsmanufacturing technologies under development employ the "plant factory"model, using genetically modified crops or genetically modified bacteria tooptimise efficiency. However, a change in consumer perception of GMtechnology in Europe will be required for these to be widely accepted.

Market

Because of the fragmentation in the market it is difficult to estimate thetotal market size for bioplastics, but estimates put global consumption in

2006 at around 85,000 tonnes In contrast, global consumption of all flexiblepackaging is estimated at around 12.3 million tonnes.

COPA (Committee of Agricultural Organisation in the European Union) andCOGEGA (General Committee for the Agricultural Cooperation in theEuropean Union) have made an assessment of the potential of bioplastics indifferent sectors of the European economy:

Catering products: 450,000 tonnes per yearOrganic waste bags: 100,000 tonnes per yearBiodegradable mulch foils: 130,000 tonnes per yearBiodegradable foils for diapers 80,000 tonnes per yearDiapers, 100% biodegradable: 240,000 tonnes per yearFoil packaging: 400,000 tonnes per yearVegetable packaging: 400,000 tonnes per yearTyre components: 200,000 tonnes per year

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Total 2,000,000 tonnes per year

The European Bioplastics trade group predicted annual capacity would morethan triple to 1.5 million tons by 2011. BCC Research forecasts the global

market for biodegradable polymers to grow at a compound average growthrate of more than 17 percent through 2012. Even so, bioplastics willencompass a small niche of the overall plastic market, which is forecast toreach 500 billion pounds globally by 2010.

Applications

Because of their biological biodegradability, the use of bioplastics isespecially popular for disposable items, such as packaging and catering items(crockery, cutlery, pots, bowls, straws). The use of bioplastics for shoppingbags is already very common. After their initial use they can be reused asbags for organic waste and then be composted . Trays and containers forfruit, vegetables, eggs and meat, bottles for soft drinks and dairy productsand blister foils for fruit and vegetables are also already widelymanufactured from bioplastics.

Non-disposable applications include mobile phone casings, carpet fibres, andcar interiors, fuel line and plastic pipe applications, and new electroactivebioplastics are being developed that can be used to carry electrical current .

In these areas, the goal is not biodegradability, but to create items fromsustainable resources.

Plastic types

Starch based plastics

Constituting about 50 percent of the bioplastics market, thermoplastic starch, such as Plastarch Material , currently represents the most importantand widely used bioplastic. Pure starch possesses the characteristic of beingable to absorb humidity and is thus being used for the production of drugcapsules in the pharmaceutical sector. Flexibiliser and plasticiser such assorbitol and glycerine are added so that starch can also be processedthermo-plastically. By varying the amounts of these additives, thecharacteristic of the material can be tailored to specific needs (also called"thermo-plastical starch").

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Polylactide acid (PLA) plastics

Polylactide acid (PLA) is a transparent plastic produced from cane sugar orcorn starch. It not only resembles conventional petrochemical mass plastics

(like PE or PP) in its characteristics, but it can also be processed easily onstandard equipment that already exists for the production of conventionalplastics. PLA and PLA-Blends (such as the CompostablesTM byCereplast,Inc)gnerally come in the form of granulates with variousproperties and are used in the plastic processing industry for the productionof foil, moulds, tins, cups, bottles and other packaging.

Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB)

The biopolymer poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a polyester produced bycertain bacteria processing glucose or starch. Its characteristics are similarto those of the petroplastic polypropylene. The South American sugar industry, for example, has decided to expand PHB production to an industrialscale. PHB is distinguished primarily by its physical characteristics. Itproduces transparent film at a melting point higher than 130 degreesCelsius, and is biodegradable without residue.

Polyamide 11 (PA 11)

PA 11is a biopolymer derived from natural oil. It is also known under thetradename Rilsan B commercialized by Arkema. PA 11 belongs to thetechnical polymers family and is not biodegradable. Its properties are similarthan PA 12 although emissions of greenhouse gases and consumption of non-renewable resources are reduced during its production. Its thermalresistance is also superior than PA 12. It is used in high performanceapplications as automotive fuel lines, pneumatic airbrake tubing, electricalanti-termite cable sheathing, oil & gas flexible pipes & control fluidumbilicals, sports shoes, electronic device components, catheters, etc.

Bio-derived polyethylene

The basic building block ( monomer) of polyethylene is ethylene. This is justone small chemical step from ethanol, which can be produced byfermentation of agricultural feedstocks such as sugar cane or corn. Bio-derived polyethylene is chemically and physically identical to traditional

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polyethylene - it does not biodegrade but can be recycled. It can alsoconsiderably reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Brazilian chemicals groupBraskem claims that using its route from sugar cane ethanol to produce onetonne of polyethylene captures (removes from the environment) 2.5 tonnes

of carbon dioxide while the traditional petrochemical route results inemissions of close to 3.5 tonnes.

Braskem plans to introduce commercial quantities of its first bio-derivedhigh density polyethylene, used in a packaging such as bottles and tubs, in2010 and has developed a technology to produce bio-derived butene,required to make the linear low density polethylene types used in filmproduction.

BIOplastics 2006

Bioplastics

PLA Quick Facts

Freezer safe Handles hot items up to 120F (except 200F utensils) Sterilized and sanitized, conforms to US Food & Drug

Administration guidelines

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Fully compostable, sturdy and strong Clear, plastic-like texture Est. Home Composting Time: Varies, Est. Commercial Composting Time: Varies

Bioplastics: PLA derived from corn-starchBioplastics are a new generation of biodegradable and compostableplastics. They are derived from renewable raw materials like starch(e.g. corn, potato, tapioca etc), cellulose, soy protein, lactic acid etc.,not hazardous in production and decompose back into carbon dioxide,water, biomass etc. when discarded. Corn starch is currently the mainraw material being used in the manufacture of bioplastic resins. Mater-Bi (main component corn-starch), and PolyActide (PLA) (made fromcorn-starch as well) are currently the 2 main resins (raw materials),being used today in the production of compostable & biodegradableplastics and are certified for compostability under standards set byinternational organizations. However, other resins are coming into themarket made from potato starch, soybean protein, cellulose etc. Mostof these are currently not certified for compostability, though some arefor biodegradability. The field of bioplastics is constantly evolving withnew materials and technologies being worked on and being brought tomarket.

Heat Resistance

Corn-starch based products (bags, cutlery, cold cups, drinkingstraws): 120 degrees F

Corn Starch Biodegradable Cutlery: 220 degrees F

Biodegradability & CompostabilityBioplastics can take different length of times to totally compost, basedon the material and are meant to be composted in a commercial

composting facility, where higher composting temperatures can bereached and is between 90-180 days. Most existing internationalstandards require biodegradation of 60% within 180 days along withcertain other criteria for the resin or product to be called compostable.It is important to make the distinction between degradable,biodegradable and compostable. These terms are often (incorrectly) usedinterchangeably.

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Compostable Plastic is plastic which is " capable of undergoing biological decomposition in a compost site as part of an available program, such that the plastic is not visually distinguishable and breaks down to carbon dioxide,water, inorganic compounds, and biomass, at a rate consistent with known

compostable materials (e.g. cellulose). and leaves no toxic residue." American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM). In order for a plastic tobe called compostable, three criteria need to be met:

1. Biodegrade - break down into carbon dioxide, water, biomass atthe same rate as cellulose (paper).

2. Disintegrate - the material is indistinguishable in the compost,that it is not visible and needs to be screened out

3. Eco-toxicity - the biodegradation does not produce any toxicmaterial and the compost can support plant growth.

Biodegradable Plastic is plastic which will degrade from the action ofnaturally occurring microorganism, such as bacteria, fungi etc. over a periodof time. Note, that there is no requirement for leaving " no toxic residue ",and as well as no requirement for the time it needs to take to biodegrade.

Degradable Plastic is plastic which will undergo a significant change in itschemical structure under specific environmental conditions resulting in a lossof some properties. Please note that there is no requirement that the

plastic has to be degrade from the action of "naturally occurringmicroorganism" or any of the other criteria required for compostableplastics.

A plastic therefore may be degradable but not biodegradable or it may bebiodegradable but not compostable (that is, it breaks down too slowly to becalled compostable or leaves toxic residue).

Estimated Composting Times

The rate of biodegration for different biocompostables is dependent

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upon the composition and thickness of the material as well as compostingconditions. Commercial composting facilities grind the materials, turnover the piles and reach high temperatures, thus reducing the amount oftime it takes to compost and, is thus, the recommended method for

composting these products. Home composting rates are slower and canvary, depending on how frequently the pile is turned over, the moistureand material content and the temperature.

Biodegradability is determined by measuring the amount of CO 2produced over a certain time period by the biodegrading plastic.ASTM, ISO and DIN standards require 60% biodegradation within180 days. The EN13432 standard requires 90% biodegradationwithin 90 days.

Disintegration is measured by sieving the material to determinethe biodegraded size and less than 10% should remain on a 2mmscreen for most standards.

Eco toxicity is measured by having concentrations of heavy metalsbelow the limits set by the standards and by testing plant growthby mixing the compost with soil in different concentrations andcomparing it with controlled compost.

'Sustainable' bio-plastic can damage the environment

Bioplastics compete for land with biofuels and food crops. About 200,000tonnes of bioplastics were produced last year, requiring 250,000-350,000

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tonnes of crops. The industry is forecast to need several million acres offarmland within four years.

There is also concern over the growing use by supermarkets of "oxy-

degradable" plastic bags, billed as sustainable. They are made ofconventional oil-based plastic, with an additive that enables the plastic tobreak down. The companies promoting it claim it reduces litter and causes nomethane or harmful residues. They are used by Wal-Mart, Pizza Hut and KFCin the US, and Tesco and the Co-op in the UK for "degradable" plasticcarrier bags.

Biopolymers and Bioplastics

Many everyday products used by Canadians are made of plastic. Pens,computers, cars, food packaging, and clothing are all examples of productswhich contain plastic. Plastic is a material made up of one or more polymers . The main source of the chemicals needed to manufacture plastics are fossilfuels. These petrochemical plastics are very durable, but take a long time tobiodegrade when disposed. Rising concern about the cost of fossil fuels, andtheir impact on the environment has resulted in a search for alternatives topetrochemical plastics, namely biopolymers and bioplastics.

What are Biopolymers and Bioplastics?

Biopolymers and bioplastics go by many different names. They are oftenreferred to as bio-based plastics and polymers, or as biodegradable plasticsor polymers. They are defined below:

Biopolymers are polymers which are present in, or created by, livingorganisms. These include polymers from renewable resources that can bepolymerized to create bioplastics.

Bioplastics are plastics manufactured using biopolymers, and arebiodegradable.

Biopolymers and bioplastics are not new products. Henry Ford developed amethod of manufacturing plastic car parts from soybeans in the mid-1900s.However, World War II side-tracked the production of bioplastic cars.

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Today, bioplastics are gaining popularity once again as new manufacturingtechniques developed through biotechnology are being applied to theirproduction.

Types of Biopolymers

There are two main types of biopolymers: those that come from livingorganisms; and, those which need to be polymerized but come fromrenewable resources. Both types are used in the production of bioplastics.

Biopolymers From Living Organisms

These biopolymers are present in, or created by, living organisms. Theseinclude carbohydrates and proteins. These can be used in the production ofplastic for commercial purposes. Examples are listed in the table below.

Biopolymer Natural Source What is it?

Cellulose Wood, cotton,corn, wheat, andothers

This polymer is made up of glucose. Itis the main component of plant cellwalls.

Soy protein Soybeans Protein which naturally occurs in thesoy plant.

Starch Corn, potatoes,wheat, tapioca,and others

This polymer is one waycarbohydrates are stored in planttissue. It is a polymer made up ofglucose. It is not found in animaltissues.

Polyesters Bacteria

These polyesters are createdthrough naturally occurring chemicalreactions that are carried out by

certain types of bacteria.

Polymerizable Molecules

These molecules come from renewable natural resources, and can bepolymerized to be used in the manufacture of biodegradable plastics.

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by-product of these cellular processes is the polymer. The polymers arethen separated from the bacterial cells.

Lactic Acid Fermentation Lactic acid is fermented from sugar, much like

the process used to directly manufacture polymers by bacteria. However, inthis fermentation process, the final product of fermentation is lactic acid,rather than a polymer. After the lactic acid is produced, it is converted topolylactic acid using traditional polymerization processes.

Growing Plastics in Plants

Plants are becoming factories for the production of plastics. Researcherscreated a Arabidopis thaliana plant through genetic engineering. The plantcontains the enzymes used by bacteria to create plastics. Bacteria createthe plastic through the conversion of sunlight into energy. The researchershave transferred the gene that codes for this enzyme into the plant, as aresult the plant produces plastic through its cellular processes. The plant isharvested and the plastic is extracted from it using a solvent. The liquidresulting from this process is distilled to separate the solvent from theplastic.

Biotechnology and Biopolymers and Bioplastics

Biotechnology is driving the production of new bioplastics. Biotechnologytechniques used to produce bioplastics include fermentation, and geneticengineering. For example, fermentation is used to release the cellulose fromplants, so the cellulose can be used to create plastics. Also, geneticengineering can be used to create plants, such as soybean, specificallydesigned to be used as a raw material for the production of bioplastics.

Current Research Areas in Biopolymers and Bioplastics

Improving efficiency is a major concern for the production of plastics andbioplastics. Currently, fossil fuel is still used as an energy source during theproduction process. This has raised questions by some regarding how muchfossil fuel is actually saved by manufacturing bioplastics. Only a fewprocesses have emerged that actually use less energy in the productionprocess. Therefore, researchers are still working on refining the processes

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used in order to make bioplastics viable alternatives to petrochemicalplastics.

Energy use is not the only concern when it comes to biopolymers and

bioplastics. There are also concerns about how to balance the need to growplants for food, and the need to grow plants for use as raw materials.Agricultural space needs to be shared. Researchers are looking into creatinga plant that can be used for food, but also as feedstock for plasticproduction. One group is attempting to genetically engineer corn to containthe bacterial enzyme responsible for plastic production. Eventually, they arehoping to create the plant in a way which would restrict the plasticproduction to the stem, and leaves of the plant. This would leave the ediblepart of the corn plastic free. The edible part of the corn would be used asfood, or as livestock feed. The plastic would be removed from the remainingpart of the corn plant.

Sustainable Development and Biopolymers and Bioplastics

Biopolymers and bioplastics are the main components in creating asustainable plastics industry. These products reduce the dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels, and are easily biodegradable. Together, this greatlylimits the environmental impacts of plastic use and manufacture. Also,characteristics such as being biodegradable make plastics more acceptable

for long term use by society. It is likely that in the long term, theseproducts will mean plastics will remain affordable, even as fossil fuelreserves diminish.

Bio-plastics: Turning Wheat And Potatoes into Plastics

The science of how "taters" can become Tupperware

In the past, fields of wheat and rows of potatoes were seldom destined foranything more than a rumbling tummy. But bio-products have come a long waysince people first branched out into weaving hemp into clothes and pulpingpapyrus into scrolls. Today the line between Mother Nature and man madehas never been more blurred. Animals are re-engineered into living drugfactories, crops fuel our cars and now plants are increasingly being

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repackaged as the epitome of the synthetic world plastic. Wheat, maize,vegetable oils, sugar beet and even the trusty spud are finding new life aswater bottles, car fuel lines and laptops.

Wheat, maize, vegetable oils, sugar beet and even the trustyspud are finding new life as water bottles, car fuel lines andlaptops.

Bio-plastics harness the natural structures found in crops or trees, such asslightly modified forms of the chains of sugars in starch or cellulose, thatshare the ability to be easily reshaped that has made conventional oil basedplastics so useful. Bio-materials scientists are also constantly tweaking thesenatural structures to try and better replicate the durability and flexibilityof conventional plastics.Global business is now turning to bio-plastics for an increasing number ofapplications, as consumers and governments demand cleaner alternatives to

petroleum based technologies and their reckless production of thegreenhouse gas CO2.

Worldwide players, such as DuPont and Toyota Motor Corp, are making vastinvestments in new technologies and processing plants with the hope ofcornering a multi-billion pound industry.

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The "BC" at Bangor University in North Wales has 18-years experience ofworking with large companies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)to find sustainable and viable bio-based alternatives to man-made materials.

BC director Paul Fowler points out that practically anything that you canfind as polyethene you can find as a bio-plastic. You are talking about a wholerange of everyday products - cups, combs and wrappers, everything you canthink of is out there. There are inroads being made all the time - on the onehand there is research into trying to get biological alternatives to replicatethe properties of conventional plastics and on the other hand people arelooking at the natural properties of these plants and trying to find anapplication for them. Most of the manufacture is happening in the US andcontinental Europe. The UK is a producer of wheat starch and biotimber butthe only major bioplastic producer is Innovia Films in Cumbria, whichproduces cellulose films.

Innovia Films has an annual turnover of 400m, employing 1,200 peopleworldwide and producing more than 120,000 tonnes of film used inpackaging to protect food. Japan is also forging ahead, from the leading rolein bioplastic production played by Toyota to its recent passing of atriumvirate of laws pushing forward environmental initiatives.In South Korea too there is a rapid drive to replace conventional plasticpackaging with polylactic acid bio-plastics.

Fowler says bio-plastics also offer an opportunity to get a double return forthe energy used in their manufacture first as a useful item and secondly asa fuel source. My view is that we should burn them at the end of their lifeto recover energy, which could be then used to produce new materials, hesaid. In the first instance you have a valuable resource can use, be it aspackaging or a shopping bag, and then you are also getting some energy backat the end of it. The biggest advantage of such bio-materials is thereduction of CO2 emissions in their production over petrochemical-based

plastics.

He also suggests that burning bio-plastics would also avoid the problemscaused by them breaking down and producing methane, which is 25-timesmore potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2.

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The BC is currently looking at developing naturally-derived alternatives tophthalates, which are plasticisers added to PVCs to make them more flexiblein products such as electrical cable flex. It follows concerns that phthalatesare metabolised in the body into substances that can mimic the body's

own hormones, including those concerned with fertility. The centre is alsodeveloping bio-resins, natural alternatives to synthetic resins such as phenoland formaldehyde.

What types of bioplastics are there?The common types of bio-plastics are based on cellulose, starch, polylacticacid (PLA), poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), and polyamide 11 (PA11). Cellulose-based plastics are usually produced from wood pulp and used to make film-based products such as wrappers and to seal in freshness in ready-mademeals.

Thermoplastic starch is the most important and widely used bioplastic,accounting for about 50pc of the bio-plastics market. Pure starchs ability toabsorb humidity has led to it being widely used for the production of drugcapsules in the pharmaceutical sector. Plasticisers, such as sorbitol andglycerine are added to make it more flexible and produce a range ofdifferent characteristics. It is commmonly derived from crops such aspotatoes or maize.

PLA is a transparent plastic whose characteristics resemble commonpetrochemical-based plastics such as polyethylene and polpropylene. It canbe processed on equipment that already exists for the production ofconventional plastics. PLA is produced from the fermentation of starch fromcrops, most commonly corn starch or sugarcane in the US, into lactic acidthat is then polymerised. Its blends are used in a wide range of applicationsincluding computer and mobile phone casings, foil, biodegradable medicalimplants, moulds, tins, cups, bottles and other packaging.

PHB is very similar to poylpropylene, which is used in a wide variety of fieldsincluding packaging, ropes, bank notes and car parts. It is a transparent film,which is also biodegradable. Interest in PHB is currently very high withcompanies worldwide aiming to expand their current production capacity.There are estimates that this could lead to a price reduction below fiveeuros per kilogram but this would still be four times the market price ofpolyethylene in February 2007. The South American sugar industry has

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commited to producing PHB on an industrial scale.

PA 11 is derived from vegetable oil and is known under the tradename Rislan .It is prized for its thermal reistance that makes it valued for use in car fuel

lines, pneumatic air brake tubing, electrical anti-termite cable sheathing andoil and gas flexible pipes and control fluid umbilicals. These are oftenreinforced with fibres from the kenaf plant, a member of the hibiscusfamily traditionally used to make paper, to increase heat resistance anddurability.

At the cutting edge of bioplastic technology lie polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)materials. These are derived from the conversion of natural sugars and oilsusing microbes. They can be processed into a number of materials including

moulded goods, fibre and film and are biodegradable and have even beenused as water resistant coatings.

What are the benefits of bio-plastics?

- Reduced CO2 emissions.One metric ton of bio-plastics generates between 0.8 and 3.2 fewer metrictons of carbon dioxide than one metric ton of petroleum-based plastics.Electronic giant Sony uses PLA in several of its smaller components, includingone of its new walkmans, but in future hopes to use PLA-based polymers toreduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 20pc and non-renewable resourceinput by 55pc compared to oil-based ABS.

- Rising oil pricesDespite currently costing more to produce than conventional plastics bio-plastics are becoming more viable with increasing and instability in oil prices,which are in turn triggering spikes in conventional plastic costs, illustrated ina sharp upturn two years ago. Dwindling oil supplies means that man willeventually be forced to turn to a sustainable basis for plastics.

- WasteBio-plastics reduce the amount of toxic run-off generated by the oil-basedalternatives but also are more commonly biodegradable. The USs secondlargest biopolymer producer Metabolix, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, claimsthat its plastics are biodegradable in composting bins, wetlands and theoceans. On the flip side not all bio-plastics are biodegradable and there are

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a growing number of conventional plastics that can naturally break down. Thedownside of their biodegradability is the methane that can be released asthe bio-plastics decompose is a powerful greenhouse gas.

- Benefit to rural economyPrices of crops, such as maize, have risen sharply in the wake of globalinterest in the production of biofuels and bio-plastics, as countries acrossthe world look for alternatives to oil to safeguard the environment andprovide energy security.

- Enhanced propertiesIn some fields engineered bio-plastics are now beating oil-based

alternatives at their own game. Multinational materials giant Arkema has

produced a form of Rislan PA11 that is being used in Europe and Brazil in fuellines to carry biofuels as it is better able to withstand the corrosive effectsof biofuels than oil-based alternatives such as polyamide 12. Rislan is widelyused in oilfield applications as well as automotive brake lines. Elsewhereinnovations in PA11 production are helping increase car passenger safety andreduce the risk of accidents by inhibiting spark ignition in the fuel lines. UScar giant General Motors has replaced its non-conductive fuel-pump modulesfor new North American car models as it felt it was the best material forthe job. In the US chemical multinational DuPont says it has developed abioplastic derived from corn sugar that has superior stiffness and strengthto its naturally based competitors. Global electronics corporation NEC hasproduced a kenaf-reinforced laptop casing, made of 90pc PLA, which helpsreduce overheating by conducting heat better than stainless steel coupledwith high temperature resistance and increased strength.

A Second Life for Bioplastics

Natural plastic sounds like a very modern invention - the cutting edge ofsustainable living, even. Yet, before World War II most objects in use had anatural origin, such as wood, rubber, and earthenware. Petroleum-basedplastics then steadily replaced natural raw materials for an extraordinarynumber of new products, and most manufactured objects were thus madesynthetically. But today natural feedstock is back in vogue, enjoying a secondlife.

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With global warming and sustainability so firmly on the agenda, not tomention ever rising oil prices, many new types of plastics are attractinginterest from both consumers and industry. Some are oil-based but

biodegradable, others are made from natural and renewable materials sincethe beginning. Could oil be displaced by biomass as the major feedstock forsynthesis? Or is it just a fad?

Harald Kaeb, Chairman of European Bioplastics, says that bioplastics are not just hype. "Twenty years of material development have now passed since theinitial days of invention and research. Now their introduction into the firstniche markets has been successfully managed, and many experts anticipatethat they will enter mass markets in the next few years." Packaging with

compostable bioplastics is currently the largest sector, followed bybiodegradable films that can be simply ploughed into the fields, where theysoon break down into carbon dioxide and water. Other mass marketapplications could in the future include bulk plastics in automobiles, or partsin electronic devices such as computers, mobile phones and DVDs.

From the perspective of patenting

The analysis of patenting activities in bioplastics is not straightforward,says Michael Niaounakis. "Bioplastics fall into a whole host of differenttechnical fields, and it is difficult to get an idea of the big picture."Nevertheless, Niaounakis confirms what a quick look on the supermarketshelves would suggest: packaging, the biggest segment for bioplastics, hasbeen indeed recording dynamic growth.

The number of European patent applications related to bioplastics in thetechnical fields of packaging and laminates has doubled since the end of the1990s. It also appears that, despite setbacks, bioplastics are also growing inimportance in the automotive industry, whilst continuing to be polymer of

choice for medical applications.

The field remains ripe for patentable inventions, and for innovation. "Firstly,there is the whole issue of costs," says Mr Niaounakis. "Companies mustdevelop efficient processes to reduce production expenses. This could be atany stage in the polymer's life cycle, including the production of rawmaterials, the extraction and purification of monomers, and the end-of-life

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processing." One particularly intriguing area appears to be the geneticmodification of micro-organisms to convert and process renewable feedstockefficiently. Such "microbial factories" could become the standard productionmethod for bioplastic production in the not-too-distant future. "Secondly,

innovation is about combining of different technologies withoutcompromising the biodegradability properties," Niaounakis continues, "suchas hybrid bioplastics, from the copolymerisation of crude oil- and plant-based monomers, and biocomposites, from the compounding of bioplasticswith different additives."

Abstract

The term biomaterials includes chemically unrelated products that are

synthesised by microorganisms (or part of them) under differentenvironmental conditions. One important family of biomaterials is bioplastics.These are polyesters that are widely distributed in nature and accumulateintracellularly in microorganisms in the form of storage granules, withphysico-chemical properties resembling petrochemical plastics. Thesepolymers are usually built from hydroxy-acylCoA derivatives via differentmetabolic pathways. Depending on their microbial origin, bioplastics differ intheir monomer composition, macromolecular structure and physicalproperties. Most of them are biodegradable and biocompatible, which makes

them extremely interesting from the biotechnological point of view.

ApplicationsPackaging

Because of their biological biodegradability, the use of bioplastics isespecially popular in the packaging sector. The use of bioplastics for shoppingbags is already very common. After their initial use they can be reused as

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bags for organic waste and then be composted. Trays and containers forfruit, vegetables, eggs and meat, bottles for soft drinks and dairy productsand blister foils for fruit and vegetables are also already widely

manufactured from bioplastics.Catering products

Catering products belong to the group of perishable plastics. Disposablecrockery and cutlery, as well as pots and bowls, pack foils for hamburgersand straws are being dumped after a single use, together with food-leftovers, forming huge amounts of waste, particularly at big events. The useof bioplastics offers significant advantages not only in an ecological sensebut also in an economical sense.

Gardening

Within the agricultural economy and the gardening sector mulch foils madeof biodegradable material and flower pots made of decomposable bioplasticsare predominantly used due to their adjustable lifespan and the fact thatthese materials do not leave residues in the soil. This helps reduce work andtime (and thus cost) as these products can simply be left to decompose,after which they are ploughed in to the soil. Plant pots used for flowering

and vegetable plants can be composted along with gardening and kitchenlitter.

Medical Products

In comparison to packaging, catering or gardening sectors, the medicalsector sets out completely different requirements with regards to productsmade of renewable and reabsorbing plastics. The highest possible qualitativestandards have to be met and guaranteed, resulting in an extremely highcosts, which sometimes exceed 1.000 Euro per kilo. The potential applicationsof biodegradable or reabsorbing bioplastics are manifold.

Sanitary Products

Due to their specific characteristics, bioplastics are used as a basis for theproduction of sanitary products. These materials are breathable and allowwater vapor to permeate, but at the same time they are waterproof. Foils

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made of soft bioplastic are already used as diaper foil, bed underlay, forincontinence products, ladies sanitary products and as disposable gloves.

Bibliography

All the material has been taken from following books n internet sites

www.google.com

www.yahoo.com

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