Production of Sustainable and Biodegradable Polymers from Agricultural Waste
Agro-wastes are derived from diverse sources including grape pomace, tomato pomace, pineapple, orange, and lemon peels, sugarcane bagasse, rice husks, wheat straw, and palm oil fibers, among other affordable and commonly available materials. The carbon-rich precursors are used in the production bio-...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/5/1127 |
| _version_ | 1797567983167471616 |
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| author | Chrysanthos Maraveas |
| author_facet | Chrysanthos Maraveas |
| author_sort | Chrysanthos Maraveas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Agro-wastes are derived from diverse sources including grape pomace, tomato pomace, pineapple, orange, and lemon peels, sugarcane bagasse, rice husks, wheat straw, and palm oil fibers, among other affordable and commonly available materials. The carbon-rich precursors are used in the production bio-based polymers through microbial, biopolymer blending, and chemical methods. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 20–30% of fruits and vegetables are discarded as waste during post-harvest handling. The development of bio-based polymers is essential, considering the scale of global environmental pollution that is directly linked to the production of synthetic plastics such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PET). Globally, 400 million tons of synthetic plastics are produced each year, and less than 9% are recycled. The optical, mechanical, and chemical properties such as ultraviolet (UV) absorbance, tensile strength, and water permeability are influenced by the synthetic route. The production of bio-based polymers from renewable sources and microbial synthesis are scalable, facile, and pose a minimal impact on the environment compared to chemical synthesis methods that rely on alkali and acid treatment or co-polymer blending. Despite the development of advanced synthetic methods and the application of biofilms in smart/intelligent food packaging, construction, exclusion nets, and medicine, commercial production is limited by cost, the economics of production, useful life, and biodegradation concerns, and the availability of adequate agro-wastes. New and cost-effective production techniques are critical to facilitate the commercial production of bio-based polymers and the replacement of synthetic polymers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:49:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b9b02ac3c4304b3e8b1b45ac28faa040 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:49:56Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-b9b02ac3c4304b3e8b1b45ac28faa0402023-11-20T00:28:30ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602020-05-01125112710.3390/polym12051127Production of Sustainable and Biodegradable Polymers from Agricultural WasteChrysanthos Maraveas0Department of Civil Engineering, University of Patras, 26500 Patra, GreeceAgro-wastes are derived from diverse sources including grape pomace, tomato pomace, pineapple, orange, and lemon peels, sugarcane bagasse, rice husks, wheat straw, and palm oil fibers, among other affordable and commonly available materials. The carbon-rich precursors are used in the production bio-based polymers through microbial, biopolymer blending, and chemical methods. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 20–30% of fruits and vegetables are discarded as waste during post-harvest handling. The development of bio-based polymers is essential, considering the scale of global environmental pollution that is directly linked to the production of synthetic plastics such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PET). Globally, 400 million tons of synthetic plastics are produced each year, and less than 9% are recycled. The optical, mechanical, and chemical properties such as ultraviolet (UV) absorbance, tensile strength, and water permeability are influenced by the synthetic route. The production of bio-based polymers from renewable sources and microbial synthesis are scalable, facile, and pose a minimal impact on the environment compared to chemical synthesis methods that rely on alkali and acid treatment or co-polymer blending. Despite the development of advanced synthetic methods and the application of biofilms in smart/intelligent food packaging, construction, exclusion nets, and medicine, commercial production is limited by cost, the economics of production, useful life, and biodegradation concerns, and the availability of adequate agro-wastes. New and cost-effective production techniques are critical to facilitate the commercial production of bio-based polymers and the replacement of synthetic polymers.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/5/1127polymerssustainabilitybiodegradable polymersagricultural wastecellulosereinforcement |
| spellingShingle | Chrysanthos Maraveas Production of Sustainable and Biodegradable Polymers from Agricultural Waste Polymers polymers sustainability biodegradable polymers agricultural waste cellulose reinforcement |
| title | Production of Sustainable and Biodegradable Polymers from Agricultural Waste |
| title_full | Production of Sustainable and Biodegradable Polymers from Agricultural Waste |
| title_fullStr | Production of Sustainable and Biodegradable Polymers from Agricultural Waste |
| title_full_unstemmed | Production of Sustainable and Biodegradable Polymers from Agricultural Waste |
| title_short | Production of Sustainable and Biodegradable Polymers from Agricultural Waste |
| title_sort | production of sustainable and biodegradable polymers from agricultural waste |
| topic | polymers sustainability biodegradable polymers agricultural waste cellulose reinforcement |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/5/1127 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chrysanthosmaraveas productionofsustainableandbiodegradablepolymersfromagriculturalwaste |