Biodegradable Polymers and Their Application

Molly Morse Molly@MangoMaterials.com

@MolMorse@MangoMaterials

DefinitionsBiodegradable: Capable of being broken down by microorganisms

Biobased: Produced from rapidly renewable carbon

Bioplastic: A biobased OR biodegradable plastic

Microplastic: A plastic fragment measuring less than 5mm

Microbead: A spherical plastic particle, intentionally designed, and smaller than 1mm (primary)

Microbeads

Market for Polymer Microbeads

Medical Technology

33%

Life Sciences

25%

Composites24%

Personal Care11%

Other7%

Alternatives

Ingredients in this face wash include walnut shell powder

Natural biodegradable exfoliants:Salts, sugars, ground up walnut shells, ground up apricot pits, oatmeal, beeswax, shells, nuts, seeds, and sand

• Source • Primary vs. secondary

Are Microbeads Sole Culprit?

Current bioplastics are expensiveOpportunity

$0

$1

$2

$3

Oil-based Bio-based

Pric

e pe

r pou

nd ($

)

$$$

What is Methane?

A greenhouse gasproduced by

Methane (biogas)

Microbial process

Biopolymer

Products

Waste facility

To turn waste into ecofriendly, affordable materials while creating a

positive environmental impact.

11

End-of-Life

Polyhydroxyalkanoate(PHA)

Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB)

PHB is one type of PHA

C

CC

O

OR

H2n

C

CC

O

OCH3

H2n

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)

PHA = bacterial “fat”

PHA is produced when excess carbon is present and/or when a key nutrient is limiting

Daniel et al (1992)

Balanced growth conditions

Carbon excess and/or nutrient deficiency; PHA granules begin to form

How is PHA produced?

SERINE CYCLE

PHA CYCLE

TCA CYCLE

acetyl-coA

PHA

cell material

4HCHO CO2HCOO-CH3OHCH4

MethanolMethane Formaldehyde FormateCarbon dioxide (or bicarbonate)

PHA Production in Methanotrophs

Initial Targeted Products

Applications

Marine Agriculture 3D Printing

PLA: Heat Properties

BiodegradableBiobasedProduced with no GMOSequesters methane$~1.10/pound

Team

Pauchon Foundation

Location of MangoStandards

Decentralized Production

3 BILLION POUNDS OF BIOPLASTIC WOULD BE

PRODUCED EACH YEAR.

IF THE COLLECTED BUT UNUSED METHANE FROM U.S. LANDFILLS IS USED TO MAKE MANGO MATERIALS’ BIOPLASTIC: