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Related Concept Videos

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters01:20

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

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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...
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Polymers02:34

Polymers

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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...
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Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

Polymer Classification: Architecture

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Polymers are classified as linear or branched on the basis of their chain architecture. The polymer chains in linear polymers have a long chain-like structure with minimal to no branching at all. Even if a polymer features large substituent groups on the monomer, which appear as branches to the skeleton, it is not considered a branched polymer. A branched polymer contains secondary polymer chains that arise from the main polymer chain. The branching occurs when the polymer growth shifts from...
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Plasticizers01:31

Plasticizers

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Water-reducers, or plasticizers, are chemical admixtures used in concrete to improve strength and workability. These additives reduce the water-cement ratio without compromising workability, lower the cement content while maintaining the same workability, or increase workability to assist concrete placement in inaccessible areas.
Plasticizers function by using surface-active agents to create repulsive electrostatic forces between cement particles. This dispersion enhances the concrete's...
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Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes02:35

Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes

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The conversion of alkenes to macromolecules called polymers is a reaction of high commercial importance. The structure of the polymer is defined by a repeating unit, while the terminal groups are considered insignificant. The average degree of polymerization represents the number of repeating units in the polymer molecule and is denoted by the subscript n.
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Updated: Jun 6, 2025

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

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Plant-inspired building blocks for future plastics.

Aurin M Vos1, Evelien Maaskant2, Wouter Post2

  • 1Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Trends in Biotechnology
|November 26, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Plant enzymes can create novel plastic building blocks for a renewable circular economy. This approach offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, enabling new applications for eco-friendly plastics.

Keywords:
bio-basedbiochemical diversitybuilding blocksplant-modifying enzymesplasticsrenewable

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Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology
  • Polymer Science
  • Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

  • The current linear economy relies heavily on fossil fuels for plastic production.
  • A transition to a circular economy necessitates sustainable alternatives for plastic building blocks.
  • Plant specialized metabolism offers vast biochemical diversity for novel compound discovery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of plant enzymes in producing novel building blocks for plastics.
  • To enable the development of new, renewable plastics through biotechnological processes.
  • To contribute to a sustainable, circular economy by replacing fossil-based plastics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing plant enzymes from specialized metabolism.
  • Employing biotechnological processes for building block synthesis.
  • Investigating the production of novel polymer precursors.

Main Results:

  • Identified plant enzymes as facilitators for producing new plastic building blocks.
  • Demonstrated the potential for biotechnological synthesis of renewable plastic precursors.
  • Showcased plant-inspired molecules as viable alternatives for new polymer development.

Conclusions:

  • Plant enzymes are a promising source for renewable plastic building blocks.
  • Biotechnological routes using plant-inspired molecules can drive the development of novel, sustainable plastics.
  • This approach supports the transition towards a circular economy and reduces reliance on fossil fuels.