In the recent years, bio-based and biodegradable products have raised great interest since sustainable development policies tend to expand with the decreasing reserve of fossil fuel and the growing concern for the environment. Bio-Polymers are a form of polymers derived from plant sources such as sweet potatoes, soya bean oil, sugarcane, hemp oil, and corn starch. These polymers are naturally degraded by the action of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae. Bio-plastics can help alleviate the energy crisis as well as reduce the dependence on fossil fuels of our society. They have some remarkable properties which make it suitable for different applications. This paper tries to give an insight about Bio-plastics, their composition, preparation, properties, special cases, advantages disadvantages, commercial viability, its life cycle, marketing and pricing of these products. As a result, the market of these environmentally friendly materials is in rapid expansion, 10 –20 % per year.

1. BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS
HARCOURT BUTLER TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE
KANPUR DEPARTMENT OF PLASTIC
TECHNOLOGY
PRESENTED BY-
SAURABH SUKLA
SR. NO. – 470/13
3RD B.TECH
PLASTIC
TECHNOLOGY

2. CONTENTS
.
 Introduction.
 History.
 Uses of plastics in various fields.
 Application of plastics.
 Reasons of opposition of plastics.
 Biodegradable polymers.
 Biodegradation process.
 Types of biodegradable polymers.
 Application of Biodegradable Polymers.
 Importance of biodegradable polymers.
 Future aspects of biodegradable polymers.
 Conclusion.
 Reference.

3. HISTORY
Biodegradable polymers have a long history and since
many are natural products, the precise timeline of their
discovery and use cannot be accurately traced.
In 1980, One of the first medicinal uses of a
biodegradable polymer “catgut suture” . The first catgut
sutures were made from the intestines of sheep.
Cellulose was discovered in 1838 by the French chemist
Anselme Payee.
 In 1925 Polyhydroxybutyrate was first isolated and
characterized by French microbiologist Maurice
Lemoigne.

4. In the 1980s, Imperial Chemical Industries developed
poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-3-hydroxyvalerate) obtained
via fermentation that was named “Biopol”.
In 1992, an international meeting ,where leaders in
biodegradable polymers met to discuss a definition,
standard, and testing protocol for biodegradable
polymers.[Also, oversight organizations such as American
Society for Testing of Materials(ASTM) and
the International Standards Organization (ISO) were
created.
As of 2013, 5-10% of the plastic market focused on
biodegradable polymer derived plastics.

5. INTRODUCTION
What actually biodegradable substance means ?
Biodegradability means breaking down of large molecules
into small molecules or decomposition , naturally by micro
organism with in a short period of time (Few weeks or
months).
The substance that can be degraded by natural process
termed as “BIODEGRADABLE” substance or those can
not be degraded or take a very long period called “ NON
BIODEGRADABLE” substance.

6. USES OF PLASTIC IN VARIOUS
FIELDS
Plastic production has increased from 0.5 to 260 million
tones per yr since 1950.
Every yr approx. 500 billions plastics bags are distributed
but only 3% recycled .
They are typically made of PE and can take up to 1000 yr
to degrade in landfill.

7. APPLICATION OF
PLASTICS
CABLES
BOTTLE
S
PIPES
TOYS

8. Plastics are used in almost every field such as -
Packaging , furniture, medical, automobile industries,
housing product, keyboard , mouse, bottles, files, cases
& cover etc. So Plastics are used in daily life, but
excess uses of plastics product has become very
harmful for human life.
Plastics faces many riots, protest, opposition. Always it is
blamed that it is great threat of environment. Even in
some countries plastics are banned and others are
planning for same.

10. OUR OCEAN ARE TURNING INTO
PLASTICS
Plastics bags are chocking our oceans . An estimated every yr
50-80 millions end up in our environment . Once they enter in
our precious water then they do not go away and remains for

11. REASONS ??
NON BIODEGRADABLE
Plastics eaten by animals is a big problem in
today`s India.
In U.N. report every yr approx. 1,00,000 animals
die in all over world.
Burning of plastic great threat of environment &
also increases pollution in atmosphere.

12. How long until it`s gone??
PLASTIC CONTAINERS……………………...
50-80 YRS
PLASTIC BOTTLES ………………………….
450 YRS
RUBBER BOOT……………………………...
50-80 YRS
FOAMED PLASTIC CUPS……………………
50 YRS
TINNED STEEL CANS………………………..
50 YRS
LEATHER SHOES…………………………….
25-40 YRS
WOOL SOCKS……………………………...

13. SOLUTION
BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS
The term “BIODEGRADABLE” materials is used to describe
those materials which can be degraded by the enzymatic
action of living organism, such as bacteria, yeasts, fungi and
the ultimate end products of the degradation process, these
being CO2, H2O and biomass under aerobic conditions.

14. Characteristics of
Biodegradable Polymers
Inert
Permeability
Non- toxicity
Bio-compatibility
Tensile strength
Mechanical strength
Controlled rate of degradation

15. The long polymer molecules are reduced to shorter and shorter lengths
and
Undergo oxidation (oxygen groups attach themselves to the polymer
molecules)
This process is trigged by Heat, UV light, Mechanical stress etc.
Oxidation causes the molecules to become hydrophilic (water attracting)
and
Small enough to be ingestible by micro-organism, setting the stage for
biodegradation to begin.
BIODEGRADATION
PROCESS
STEP- 1ST

17. STEP 3RD
As micro- organism consume the degraded
plastic, carbon dioxide, water and biomass are
produced and returned to nature by way of the
biocycle.
STEP 2ND
Biodegradation occurs in the presence of moisture
and micro-organisms typically found in environment.
The plastic material is completely broken down in to
the residual products of the biodegradation process.

19. SOURCES OF
BIODEGRADABLE POLYMER
Polysaccharides
Starches
Wheat
Potatoes
Maize
Cassava
Lingo- cellulose product
Wood
Straws
Others
Pectin
Chitosan /chitin
Gums

20. Polysaccharides
It is polymeric carbohydrate molecules composed of long chains
of monosaccharide units bound together by glycosidic linkages
and on hydrolysis give the constituent monosaccharide's or
oligosaccharides. They
range in structure from linear to highly branched. Examples
include storage polysaccharides such as starch and glycogen,
and structural polysaccharides such as cellulose and chitin.

21. Chitosan
Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide composed of randomly distributed
β-(1-4)-linked D-glucosamine (deacetylated unit) and N-acetyl-D
glucosamine (acetylated unit). It is made by treating shrimp and other
crustacean shells with the alkali sodium hydroxide. Chitin is the second
most abundant agro-polymer produced in nature after cellulose.
Chitosan has a number of commercial and possible biomedical uses. It
can be used in agriculture as a seed treatment and biopesticide, In
industry, it can be used in a self-healing polyurethane paint coating. In
medicine, it may be useful in bandages to reduce bleeding and as an
antibacterial agent.

22. Biodegradable polymers are divided into three main categories
Polyglycolic acid
Polylactic acid
Polycaprolactone
Polyvinyl alcohol
1. Biodegradable polymers obtained by chemical synthesis--

23. 2.Biodegradable polymers produced through fermentation by
microorganism-
Polyesters
Neutral polysaccharides
3. Biodegradable polymers from chemically modified
natural
product-
Starch
Cellulose
Chitin and Chitosan
Soy based plastic

24. Poly 3-hydroxyalkanoate
PHA is one of the most common types of biodegradable plastics that
can be found. PHA is made naturally when bacteria ferment lipids or
sugars.
The main advantage is that this type of bioplastics is very versatile, and
its properties can be manipulated to create materials that are used in
many different area.
The medical industry currently is one of the biggest consumers of PHA
bio plastics.
PHA-Production of PHA-
Produced under condition of
 Excess carbon
 Low limiting nutrient (P,S,N,O)
Two different types:
 Short chain length.
 Medium chain length.

25. SYNTHESIS
•Microorganism which is used in synthesis of PHA is Alcaligenes
eutrophus.
•PHA Polymer obtained is 80% of dry bacteria weight.
•Imperial chemical industries developed poly (3-hydroxy butyrate
co 3- hydroxy valerate ) obtained via fermentation that was named

26. Recovery of PHA from cells
After synthesis is the most imp step is the
removal of polymer from bacteria so techniques
which are cost efficient are used.
PHA producing cells from found mainly in Nile
River .
Polymer is separated from cells using
centrifugation and filtration.
PHA is recovered using solvents like
chloroform.
Polymer is then purified.

27. Polylactic acid
PLA plastics are called Polylactic acid plastics, usually fully transparent. This
plastics is derived from certain forms of sugar cane and commonly used in
packaging material, due to case of molding it almost any desired shape.

28. SYNTHESIS
The starch is first hydrolyzed into glucose and then fermented into
sodium lactate and by purification, obtained Lactic acid.
This lactic acid forms a ring. This ring opens to combine and form
polylactide.
This polymer is then obtained and purified.

29. PLA CARBON CYCLE

30. Chemical and Physical Properties
Due to the chiral nature of lactic acid, several distinct forms of polylactide
exist: poly-L-lactide (PLLA) is the product resulting from polymerization of
L,L-lactide (also known as L-lactide).
PLLA has a crystallinity of around 37%
Glass transition temperature 60–65 °C.
Melting temperature 173–178 °C
Tensile modulus 2.7–16GPa.
Heat-resistant PLA can withstand temperatures of 110 °C.
PLA is soluble in chlorinated solvents, hot benzene , tetrahydrofuran, and
dioxane.

31. Application of PLA polymer-
Tea bags made from PLA.
PLA cups used in restaurants.
3D Printed Human skull with data
from Computed
Tomography.Transparent PLA

32. Future of PLA

33. IMPORTANCE OF BIODEGRADABLE
POLYMER
 Improper disposal and failure to recycle
results in overflowing landfills.
 100% Biodegradable.
 Produced from renewable resources.
 Able to RECYCLED, BURNED without
producing toxic products.
 Localized delivery of drugs.
 Reduce side effects.
 Controllable degradation rate

34. FUTURE OUTLOOK OF BIODEGRADABLE
POLYMERSDevelopment of biodegradable polymers for consumer and property
requirements for many applications in which biodegradability would be an
important materials property is a major challenge.
Biodegradable Polymers Challenges that need to be addressed in the
coming years include management of raw materials, performance of
biodegradable materials, and their cost for production.
Economy of scale will be one of the main challenges for production of
Biodegradable polymers.
It is very important to develop-
New manufacturing routes by replacing existing methods with high
yields
New microbiological strains/enzymes
Efficient downstream processing methods Biodegradable polymers
products.
Many developments are currently underway to develop various
polyamides, polyesters , Polyhydroxyaloknates , etc. with a high

35. Biodegradable polymers are closer to the reality of
replacing
conventional polymers than ever before. Nowadays,
biodegradable polymers are commonly found in many
applications from commodity to hi-tech applications due to
advancement in biotechnologies and public awareness.
However , despite these advancements, there are still
some drawbacks which prevent the wider
commercialization of bio-based polymers in many
applications. This is mainly due to performance and price
when compared with their conventional counterparts, which
remains a significant challenge for bio-based polymers.
CONCLUSION

36. REFERENCE
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable_polymer.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polylactic_acid
 Bastioli,editor,Catia(2005). Handbook of biodegradable
polymers. Shawbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, U.K.: Rapra
Technology. ISBN 9781847350442.
Plastics- The Facts 2012" (PDF). Plastics Europe.
Retrieved 9 February 2014.
New emerging trends in synthetic biodegradable
polymers – Polylactide: A critique. European Polymer
Journal 2007
43 4053-4074