Question

What are biopolymers ?

Answer 1

Biopolymers are polymers that occur in nature. Carbohydrates and proteins, for example, are biopolymers. Many biopolymers are already being produced commercially on large scales, although they usually are not used for the production of plastics. Even if only a small percentage of the biopolymers already being produced were used in the production of plastics, it would significantly decrease our dependence on manufactured, non-renewable resources.

• cellulose is the most plentiful carbohydrate in the world; 40 percent of all organic matteris cellulose!
• starch is found in corn (maize), potatoes, wheat, tapioca (cassava), and some other plants. Annual world production of starch is well over 70 billion pounds, with much of it being used for non-food purposes, like making paper, cardboard, textile sizing, and adhesives.
• collagen is the most abundant protein found in mammals. Gelatin is denatured collagen, and is used in sausage casings, capsules for drugs and vitamin preparations, and other miscellaneous industrial applications including photography.
• casein, commercially produced mainly from cow's skimmed milk, is used in adhesives, binders, protective coatings, and other products.
• soy protein and zein (from corn) are abundant plant proteins. They are used for making adhesives and coatings for paper and cardboard.
• polyesters are produced by bacteria, and can be made commercially on large scales through fermentation processes. They are now being used in biomedical applications