1. FATHIMA P.E.
Ist M.Sc Biopolymer Science
CBPST, Kochi

2. What is Biopolymers?
Biopolymers are referred to as the material
that are either biodegradable, derived from
both the renewable and non-renewable
resources or materials that are non
biodegradable and derived from renewable
resources.

3. Why we go for Biopolymers?

4. Current trends in Biopolymers
 Biopolymers have found wide acceptance in
various industries, on account of its distinguished
environment friendly properties.
 On the basis of application areas, the market of
biopolymers can be broadly segmented into
packaging, bottles, fibers, agriculture, automotive,
and others.
 Packaging and bottles are the major biopolymers
applications and serve an array of industries due
to their various properties and performance
advantages.
 Among major biopolymers, PHA is an emerging
market and its demand is growing at good pace.

5. Current trends in Biopolymers
 This study on biopolymers market estimates the
global demand for biopolymers and market value
for 2012 and projects the expected demand and
market value of the same by 2018.
 As a part of quantitative analysis, the study
segments the global market by type, application
and geography with current market estimation and
forecast till 2018.
 The segmentation by type includes bio-PET, bio-
PE, PLA, PHA, bio-PBS, starch blends, and
regenerated cellulose; while on the basis of its
application the segmentation includes packaging,
bottles, fibers, agriculture, automotive, injection
molding and others.

6. Bio-based polymers still hold a tiny
fraction of the total global plastic market.
Currently, biopolymers share less than
1% of the total market. At the current
growth rate, it is expected that
biopolymers will account for just over
1% of polymers by 2015

8. Commercially available
Biopolymers
 PLA belongs to the family of aliphatic polyesters with
the basic constitutional unit lactic acid.
 The monomer lactic acid is the hydroxyl carboxylic acid
which can be obtained via bacterial fermentation from
corn (starch) or sugars obtained from renewable
resources.
 PLA is a thermoplastic polymer which has the potential
to replace traditional polymers such as PET, PS, and
PC for packaging to electronic and automotive
applications.
 PLA has similar mechanical properties to traditional
polymers, the thermal properties are not attractive due
to low Tg of 60°C.
Polylactic acid (PLA):

9. Bionanocomposites
 Bio-nanocomposites form a unique class of a
research area that integrates biology, chemistry,
materials science, engineering and nanotechnology to
present an interdisciplinary approach for solving of
problems.
 In today’s world, bio-nanocomposites are becoming
increasingly prevalent due to the extraordinary
properties that they possess.
 In order to produce bionanocomposite; select suitable
matrices (e.g. aliphatic polyesters, polypeptides and
proteins, polysaccharides, and polynucleic acids) and
fillers (e.g. nanotubes, nanofibers, clay nanoparticles,
hydroxyapetite and metal nanoparticles) and alter
their chemistry and structure to suit the target field.

10.  This problem can be overcome by changing the
stereochemistry of the polymer and blending with
other polymers and processing aids to improve the
mechanical properties, e.g., varying the ratio of l and
d isomer ratio strongly influences the crystallinity of
the final polymer.
 PLA is widely used in many day-to-day applications. It
has been mainly used in food packing (including food
trays, tableware such as plates and cutlery, water
bottles, candy wraps, cups, etc.)
 The ease of melt processing has led to the production
of PLA fibers, which are used in textile industry.
 various PLA blends are used in implants for growing
living cells

11. Polyhydroxyalkanoates
(PHAs)
 Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a family of
polyesters produced by bacterial fermentation with the
potential to replace conventional hydrocarbon-based
polymers.
 PHAs occur naturally in a variety of organisms, but
microorganisms can be employed to tailor their
production in cells.
 PHA can also be produced by using several
renewable waste feedstock.
 The feedstock include cellulosic, vegetable oils,
organic waste, municipal solid waste, and fatty acids
depending on the specific PHA required.

12.  PHA and its copolymers are widely used as
biomedical implant materials.
 These include sutures, suture fasteners, meniscus
repair devices, rivets, bone plates, surgical mesh,
repair patches, cardiovascular patches, tissue
repair patches, and stem cell growth.
 PHAs can also be used in drug delivery due to
their biocompatibility and controlled degradability.

13. Recent advances in biopolymers and
biopolymer-based nanocomposites for
food packaging materials.
 Plastic packaging for food and non-food applications is
non-biodegradable, and also uses up valuable and scarce
non-renewable resources like petroleum.
 The current focus on exploring alternatives to petroleum
and emphasis on reduced environmental impact, research
is increasingly being directed at development of
biodegradable food packaging from biopolymer-based
materials.
 Recent developments in biopolymer-based food packaging
materials including natural biopolymers (such as starches
and proteins), synthetic biopolymers (such as poly lactic
acid), biopolymer blends, and nanocomposites based on
natural and synthetic biopolymers

15. Biomedical
Application
 The biomaterial have shown potential in
biomedical application, including tissue
engineering, drug delivery, wound dressing , bond
substitution and sutures.
 For eg; chitosan based nanocomposite as a novel
group of biomaterials with the potential to support
and facilitate cell growth for controlled drug
delivery and as biosensors to detect glucose in the
body.

16. Automotive Applicatons
 Renewable resources based “Green” nanocomposite
are the next generation of material which provide a
combination of performance and environmental
compatibility
 It help to replace existing petroleum derived
polypropylene pp/tpo based nanocomposite with
environmentally friendly nanocomposite produced
from bacterial based bioplastic (PHA) reinforced with
compatibilised nanoclay for automotive application.
 The nanocomposite are sustainable materials since
they are recyclable; are stable in use but can be
triggered to biodegradable under composting
conditions

17. Why bionanocomposites?
 Improve the following biopolymer
properties:
Mechanical.
Thermal stability.
Toughness.
Barrier.
Biodegradability.