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Related Concept Videos

Bioplastics01:27

Bioplastics

Bioplastics derived from microbial processes present a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Among these, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), particularly polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs), have emerged as prominent candidates due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers are synthesized by a variety of bacteria, such as Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida, which naturally accumulate PHAs as intracellular carbon and energy reserves, especially under...
Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters01:20

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the polymer...
Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer widely utilized in the packaging industry, particularly for bottles and containers. Due to its chemical stability and durability, PET accumulates in the environment, contributing significantly to plastic pollution. It comprises repeating units of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, resulting in a semi-crystalline structure that is resistant to natural degradation processes.A notable breakthrough in plastic biodegradation came with the...
Polymers02:34

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...
Bioremediation00:46

Bioremediation

Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
Biofuels01:25

Biofuels

The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...

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Updated: May 12, 2026

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
10:22

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Published on: November 30, 2020

Biodegradable polyesters from renewable resources.

Amy Tsui1, Zachary C Wright, Curtis W Frank

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. atsui@stanford.edu

Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
|April 2, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Biorenewable polymers like poly(lactic acid) and poly(hydroxyalkanoates) offer sustainable alternatives to plastics but face processing challenges. Strategies such as copolymerization, additives, and specific processing techniques enhance their durability and biodegradability for industrial use.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Science
  • Materials Science
  • Sustainable Materials

Background:

  • Growing environmental concerns drive the need for biorenewable polymers as alternatives to conventional plastics.
  • Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) are leading candidates due to their semicrystalline and biorenewable nature.
  • These polymers exhibit inherent brittleness and susceptibility to thermal degradation, limiting their industrial applicability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore methods for enhancing the durability and processability of biorenewable polymers.
  • To address the brittleness and thermal degradation issues of PLA and PHAs.
  • To balance the mechanical properties and biodegradability of these sustainable materials.

Main Methods:

  • Investigating copolymerization and blending techniques to improve ductility.
  • Examining chain modifications, including branching and crosslinking.
  • Evaluating processing techniques such as fiber drawing and annealing.
  • Assessing the role of additives like plasticizers and nucleating agents.
  • Analyzing the influence of morphology on end-of-life degradation.

Main Results:

  • Copolymers and blends enhance ductility and broaden the thermal-processing window.
  • Chain modifications, specialized processing, and additives improve mechanical properties.
  • These strategies mitigate thermal degradation during processing.
  • Morphology significantly impacts the degradation behavior at the end of the product lifecycle.

Conclusions:

  • Various strategies effectively overcome the processing limitations of biorenewable polymers.
  • Achieving a balance between durability and biodegradability is feasible for industrial applications.
  • Understanding morphology-property-degradation relationships is crucial for developing advanced sustainable plastics.