IMPORTANCE AND APPLICATIONS OF

BIOPOLYMERS ARJUN K GOPI & SUHAIL K S – M.Sc. Biopolymer Science

CENTRE FOR BIOPOLYMER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY(CBPST), KOCHI

•Plastics materials are used world wide today for multitude of application. Most of these plastics are derived from petroleum and are not biodegradable. •The non renewable sources are decreasing steadily due to the high consumption. •Due to unorganized and improper disposal , non degradable plastics causing harm to the environment.

Sustainability is meeting the needs of present generation without compromising the future generation to meet their own needs.

BIOPOLYMERS

BIO BASED BIO DEGRADABLE

VALUE PROPOSITION OF BIO BASED POLYMER

Biobased Plastics: Plastic products made by transforming biobased material, either exclusively or in combination with non-biobased (petrochemical based) material. A biobased material is one in which a significant portion of the carbon is derived from a renewable resource, e.g.: corn, soybeans, grasses, or other plant mass

Biodegradable Plastics: Plastic (either biobased or petrochemical based) products that are designed to breakdown for complete assimilation by microorganisms in a disposal infrastructure such as composting.

Biopolymers refer to the material that are either bio degradable, derived from both renewable and non renewable resources or materials that are non bio degradable and derived from renewable resources.

SUSTAINABILITY

•Derived from renewable resources such as edible and non edible crops. •Reduces the dependence of fossil fuel. •Carbon dioxide neutral and zero carbon foot print. •Bio degradable and bio based has end of disposal options.

How they reduce carbon foot print?

BIO DEGREDATION PROCESS

Bio degradation is a process of assimilation of C-sources by micro organism for energy that result in the conversion of C-sources to CO2,water,minerals and biomass when complete.

BIOPOLYMER WHAT IS CARBON FOOTPRINT?

•It is a measure of total amount of CO2, methane emission of a defined population , system or activity considering all relevant population, system or activity of system. •Carbon neutral:Carbon neutral is a term used to describe fuels that neither contribute to nor reduce the amount of carbon (measured in the release of carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere

APPLICATIONS

CONCLUSION

•Today as the world is moving towards sustainable economy, many applications of biopolymers are emerging. •To conclude, let us welcome biopolymers in India , for its bio degradability ,renewable resources base and low or zero carbon foot print.

“USE RENEWABLE MATERIALS FOR A

SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY”

REFERENCES

•David Plackett, 2011, Biopolymers- New materials for sustainable films and coatings, John wiley and sons Ltd. 323 PP. •http://www.attittudeblogger.in/ •http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/

•Biomedical applications .

•Cups ,bottles ,apparels ,cutleries.

•Mulch films in agriculture fields.

•Films for food packaging.