Recent Developments in Biobased Polymers for General and Engineering Applications

The article discusses the development of biobased polymers as a means of ensuring that the world focuses on organic materials. It explores the benefits of using biodegradable polymers and their impact on the environment. The article also discusses the development of petroleum-derived polymers and their advantages and disadvantages. Lastly, it highlights newly developed biobased polymers and their applications.

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The Recent Developments in Biobased Polymers toward General and
Engineering Applications: Polymers that Are Upgraded from Biodegradable
Polymers, Analogous to Petroleum-Derived Polymers, and Newly Developed
by
Hajime Nakajima, Peter Dijkstra and Katja Loos
For the past few years, there have been debates concerning the increasing wastes
that pollute the environment and that makes lives unbearable. Notably, the use of
plastics have been a major concerns in the modern world in its efforts to make the
environment greener and cleaner. Traditionally, polymers including polyethylene and
polypropylene had been used for a while but unfortunately they stay for many years
without decomposing and hence they are considered as threats to the environment.
Plastics are used for just a short period of time but after being disposed, they do not
decompose. Nakajima and his colleagues, brings about a discussion on the
development of biobased polymers. Audrey, et al also notes that development of bio-
based polymers and the upgrading they are going through are arguably among the
innovations in the modern engineering sector (15). The world is concerned with
consumption and conservation of energy and there are efforts in ensuring that there is
efficient use of energy which is among efforts of reducing global warming (the major
challenge of the world).

Bio-based polymers are arguably new in the modern science and they are formed
from the micro-organisms, plants, and from animals. Due to the public demand about
waste management, bio-based polymers have come in place as a means of ensuring
that the world focus on the organic materials. Major areas in which biodegradable
polymers are found include medical, bioengineering and pharmaceutical. Sindhu, et al
asserts that one of the benefits of using bio-degradable polymers is that they allow
efficient production and hence they lead to desired functionalities as well as physical
properties (429). Nevertheless, there are chemical and biochemical processes that are
used in the production of polymers. Of important about these polymers is due to their
environmental impacts and in particular the reduction of the carbon footprint (Aguilar
and San Roman 8). In addition to this, bio-based polymers have also been used in the
improvements in the physical durability as well as the processability of PLA. Also
they are greatly used for bottles, films and also in other packaging materials especially
in the foods and also in the beverage industries. There have been rigorous campaigns
on waste management and this has invited innovations in the polymers engineering
sector and for use it have had great impacts in the world we are living in.
Apart from bio-based polymers, there have also been petroleum derived polymers
such as bio-ethylene. However, the use of petroleum based polymers have various
disadvantages and these include the rise of oil prices and there are also environmental
awareness. In fact, fossil fuels have been the major contribution to the global warming
and hence they have faced criticisms and thus the world are encouraging people to use
renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar and hydro power. All the same,
petroleum derived polymers have the benefits which include complete combustion
and they can also be recycled. Motivation for the development of polymers is to
enhance sustainability in the production and also in the use of resources around the

world. The same is noted by Blavatska and Janke as they say petroleum derived
polymers are thus essential in creating realistic development strategies since they have
high thermal durability and mechanical strength (184). Nevertheless, the rigidity of
the polymers should be moderated as this will help in processing practical extrusion
as well as injection molding. During the development of polymers there are important
aspects that should be taken into consideration including improvement of mechanical
properties. This is because most of the polymers are used in the industries and hence
there is need to ensure that optimum polymerization process is determined.
Lastly, there are newly developed bio-based polymers and one of the most
important polymer is Poly (Ethylene 2,5-Furandicarboxylate)(PEF) used in the
production of Synvina. One of the properties that makes PEF popular is the high gas
barrier property and this makes it appropriate in the packing especially in the
beverage industry. Laurichesse and Avérous note that Any development that takes
place in the production of polymer is based on the properties as well as the promising
functionalities and applications (1270). Polymers is a wide topic in the engineering
sector and exploration of high-spec engineering grade bio-based polymers should be
encouraged. However, there are various aspects that engineers should take into
consideration and focus on, the availability and the sustainability of polymers. Bio-
based polymers should be continuously used as they consume less energy, less carbon
emission, less landfill is required and they are also recyclable. Nevertheless, there are
raising issues concerning the use of the same as there will be need for industrial
composters to turn the biodegradable plastics into composts (Coline et al 3150).
Currently, the world is facing a major challenge of global warming and engineers
should be at the forefront of getting solution to this challenge. As such, polymers is an
essential topic especially in the use and management of both organic and inorganic

materials in the world we are living in.
Works cited
Blavatska, Viktoria, and Wolfhard Janke. "Shape anisotropy of polymers in
disordered environment." The Journal of chemical physics 133.18 (2010):
184903.
Aguilar, Maria Rosa, and Julio San Román, eds. Smart polymers and their
applications. Elsevier, 2014.
Doppalapudi, Sindhu, et al. "Biodegradable polymers—an overview." Polymers for
Advanced Technologies 25.5 (2014): 427-435.
Laurichesse, Stéphanie, and Luc Avérous. "Chemical modification of lignins:
Towards biobased polymers." Progress in Polymer Science 39.7 (2014): 1266-
1290.
Voirin, Coline, et al. "Functionalization of cardanol: towards biobased polymers
and additives." Polymer Chemistry 5.9 (2014): 3142-3162.
Llevot, Audrey, et al. "From Lignin‐derived Aromatic Compounds to Novel Biobased
Polymers." Macromolecular rapid communications 37.1 (2016): 9-28.