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Biodegradable Elements and Bioplastic

Biodegradation is the natural breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, distinct from human-driven composting, and occurs in three stages: biodeterioration, biofragmentation, and assimilation. Biodegradable elements, including natural materials like food waste and synthetic bioplastics, are important for reducing pollution and promoting sustainability. Bioplastics, derived from renewable resources, offer eco-friendly alternatives to traditional plastics but face challenges such as land use and potential competition with food production.

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14 views21 pages

Biodegradable Elements and Bioplastic

Biodegradation is the natural breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms, distinct from human-driven composting, and occurs in three stages: biodeterioration, biofragmentation, and assimilation. Biodegradable elements, including natural materials like food waste and synthetic bioplastics, are important for reducing pollution and promoting sustainability. Bioplastics, derived from renewable resources, offer eco-friendly alternatives to traditional plastics but face challenges such as land use and potential competition with food production.

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Biodegradation

• Biodegradation is the breakdown of organic matter by


microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi.
• It is generally assumed to be a natural process, which
differentiates it from composting.
• Composting is a human-driven process in which
biodegradation occurs under a specific set of circumstances.
Mechanisms
• The process of biodegradation can be divided into three stages:
biodeterioration, biofragmentation, and assimilation.
• Biodeterioration is sometimes described as a surface-level degradation that
modifies the mechanical, physical and chemical properties of the material.
• This stage occurs when the material is exposed to abiotic factors in the
outdoor environment and allows for further degradation by weakening the
material's structure.
• Some abiotic factors that influence these initial changes are compression
(mechanical), light, temperature and chemicals in the environment.
• Biofragmentation of a polymer is the lytic process in which bonds within a polymer are cleaved,
generating oligomers and monomers in its place.
• The steps taken to fragment these materials also differ based on the presence of oxygen in the system.
• The breakdown of materials by microorganisms when oxygen is present is aerobic digestion, and the
breakdown of materials when oxygen is not present is anaerobic digestion.
• The main difference between these processes is that anaerobic reactions produce methane, while aerobic
reactions do not (however, both reactions produce carbon dioxide, water, some type of residue, and a
new biomass).
• In addition, aerobic digestion typically occurs more rapidly than anaerobic digestion, while anaerobic
digestion does a better job reducing the volume and mass of the material.
• Due to anaerobic digestion's ability to reduce the volume and mass of waste materials and produce a
natural gas, anaerobic digestion technology is widely used for waste management systems and as a
source of local, renewable energy.
• In the assimilation stage, the resulting products from biofragmentation are then integrated into
microbial cells.
• Some of the products from fragmentation are easily transported within the cell by
membrane carriers.
• However, others still have to undergo biotransformation reactions to yield products that can then
be transported inside the cell.
• Once inside the cell, the products enter catabolic pathways that either lead to the production of
adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or elements of the cells structure.
Biodegradable elements
Biodegradable elements are materials that can break down naturally
through biological processes like decomposition by microorganisms.
They are often made from organic materials like plants, food scraps,
or synthetic polymers designed to degrade.
Examples of biodegradable elements include
• plant-based materials (like leaves, wood, cotton, and wool),
• food waste
• some types of plastic made from renewable resources or synthetic
materials.
Natural Biodegradable Elements:

• Plant-based materials:
• These include wood, leaves, paper, cotton, wool, and other organic substances that
are naturally decomposed by microbes.
• Food waste:
• Fruits, vegetables, and other food scraps can be broken down by bacteria and
fungi in compost piles or through other natural processes.
• Animal byproducts:

• Human and animal excreta, as well as the remains of dead organisms, are also
biodegradable.
Synthetic Biodegradable Elements

• Biodegradable plastics:
• These are plastics made from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane, or designed to
break down via biological processes.
• Synthetic polymers:
• Some synthetic polymers are engineered to degrade over time, often through hydrolysis or
enzymatic breakdown, making them biodegradable.
• Polylactic acid (PLA):

• A common example of a synthetic biodegradable polymer derived from renewable resources.


Why are Biodegradable Elements
Important?
• Reduced pollution:
• Biodegradable elements minimize the long-term environmental impact of waste by breaking down
naturally, preventing pollution from persistent materials.
• Resource efficiency:
• Many biodegradable materials are derived from renewable resources, reducing the reliance on
fossil fuels and promoting sustainability.
• Compostable materials:

• Some biodegradable materials, like food scraps and paper, can be composted, enriching the soil
with valuable nutrients.
• Bioplastics are alternatives to
fossil-based conventional
plastics that are made from
renewable sources like plant
biomass.
• They are often 100% bio-
based and are considered
sustainable as they reduce
reliance on fossil resources,
introduce eco-friendly
disposal options, and use less
toxic production methods.
What are Bioplastics?
• Bioplastics are sustainable alternatives to traditional
plastics made from renewable sources, are biodegradable,
or are manufactured through biological processes.
• Simply, bioplastics refer to plastics derived from plant or
biological sources.
• Being biobased means that the main source of the product is
biomass, primarily plants such as corn and sugarcane.
• It’s important to understand that “biobased” and “biodegradable”
are not the same.
• The biodegradability is related to the chemical structure of the
material, not the source of the product. This means that
bioplastics can be entirely biobased and still not biodegrade,
while some fossil-based plastics are biodegradable.
Types of Bioplastics

• The two major types of bioplastics produced in large quantities are polylactic acid (PLA) and
polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA).
• Besides these, there are several other bioplastics such as cellulose-based, starch-based, and
protein-based polymers.
• PLA is derived from sugars found in crops like corn, cassava, or sugarcane. Its basic building
blocks are lactides or lactic acid monomers, which are polymerized to create PLA.
• PLA has numerous advantageous characteristics, including ease of fabrication, biodegradability,
and non-toxicity.
• When PLA undergoes biodegradation, it releases CO2, water, and decomposed organic matter,
which can be used by green plants.
• PLA is commonly used in green packaging for fresh food products and also has applications in
sectors such as construction, agriculture, transportation, electronics, household goods, and
textiles.
• PHA is a thermoplastic polyester created from the polymerization of (R)-3-
hydroxyalkanoic acid monomers.
• PHA is made by microorganisms. These microbes synthesize PHA as a means of
storing energy and carbon intracellularly.
• PHA has a wide range of applications, particularly in biodegradable implants,
drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, and anticancer and antibacterial
treatments.
• PHA is biodegradable and harmless to living tissues so it is commonly used in
medical applications.
• It also has applications in single-use food packaging.
Benefits of Bioplastics

• Bioplastics contribute to a cleaner environment by lowering greenhouse gas emissions.


• Manufacturing bioplastics typically requires less energy than traditional plastics, promoting energy
efficiency.
• Bioplastics reduce the dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels and contribute to carbon
neutrality by using renewable biomass resources.
• Biodegradable bioplastics provide an eco-friendly end-of-life solution, reducing landfill waste and
environmental pollution.
• Bioplastics do not contain harmful additives like bisphenol A.
• Bioplastics are versatile and suitable for various applications, from packaging to medical devices,
offering a wide range of sustainable solutions.
Challenges and Limitations of
Bioplastics
• Production of bioplastic requires extensive land resources for cultivating the plants for raw
materials, which adds pressure on both the environment and the food supply.
• Similar to conventional plastics, bioplastics also raise concerns about chemical leaching.
• The effectiveness of bioplastics depends on factors such as their chemical composition,
manufacturing processes, and end-of-life management.
• The use of bioplastics has hidden environmental costs, such as the use of toxic pesticides on crops
and carbon dioxide emissions from harvesting equipment.
• Many bioplastic manufacturing facilities rely on fossil fuels to power their operations, consuming
nearly as much energy as conventional plastic production.
• The utilization of edible biomass raises ethical concerns regarding potential competition with food
production.
• More efficient methods for using biowastes must be developed.
Bioplastic vs. Biodegradable Plastic

• Bioplastic
• Bioplastic packaging is made of plastics that are sourced from plants or other biological material.
These include vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, straw, woodchips, sawdust, recycled food waste,
etc.
• These sources are converted into polylactic acids (PLAs) to make bioplastic.
• It is considered safe and most commonly used in food packaging.
• Biodegradable plastic
• Biodegradable plastic packaging is a responsible choice that considers the environment. It's an
important step towards reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
• However, biodegradable plastic is made of petroleum-based materials, which contains additives that
allow the plastic to break more easily.
• Unlike bioplastics, biodegradable plastic packaging can leave behind toxic materials on
decomposition.

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