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Chapter 19 · Plastics from Nature - Biopolymers
19
? Ten Quickies
1. For which three different groups of
substances can the term “bioplastics” be
used?
2. Name three possible advantages
of biogenic plastics compared to
petrochemical plastics!
3. Are all biodegradable plastics suitable for
domestic compost? Explain your answer!
4. Which biogenic polymer is the oldest
thermoplastic? For what has it been used
and where can it still be found today?
5. Name three proteinogenic polymers that
have been used by humanity for clothing
for thousands of years!
6. What does the abbreviation PHA stand
for? What are they made of and how can
they be obtained industrially?
7. Explain the industrially most important
synthesis route for the production of
polylactic acid!
8. Which are the two most important
polymer classes that are produced based
on biogenic monomers?
9. Name four important dicarboxylic acids
that are used for the synthesis of biogenic
polymers from renewable raw materials.
From which classes of substrates can they
be produced?
10. Which short-chain biogenic diol is
a drop-in solution for an otherwise
petrochemically produced compound?
How is it produced?
References
Monographs and Review Articles
Sharma S, Kumar A (eds) (2019) Keratin as a protein
biopolymer - extraction from waste biomass and
applications. Springer Intern. Publ.
Di Lorenzo ML, Androsch R (eds) (2018) Synthesis, structure and properties of Poly(lactic acid). Springer
Intern. Publ.
Di Lorenzo ML, Androsch R (eds) (2018) Industrial Applications of Poly(lactic acid). Springer Intern. Publ.
Thakur VK, Thakur MK, Kessler MR (eds) (2017) Handbook
of composites from renewable materials. Wiley, 8 Volumes: Vol. 1: Structure and chemistry; Vol. 2: Design
and manufacturing; Vol. 3: Physico‐chemical and
mechanical characterization; Vol. 4: Functionalization; Vol. 5: Biodegradable materials; Vol. 6: Polymeric
polylactic acid, for example, whose
monomer (lactic acid) can be produced in
a natural way.
5 The proportion of renewable monomers
in a biopolymer can be determined and
tested using the radiocarbon dating.
5 Biopolymers also include plastics that
are biodegradable, irrespective of the
chemical origin of the monomers. Several
certificates and standards exist for the
biodegradability and composting of
biopolymers.
5 In some cases, plastics are also referred to
as biopolymers if they are biocompatible,
e.g. if they do not cause any rejection
reactions in the body when used as
implants.
5 Polysaccharides and their derivatives
such as cellulose esters, thermoplastic
starch and regenerated chitosan are
among the “classic” biopolymers that are
industrially used as plastics.
5 Another very important group are
proteinogenic biopolymers, such as
collagens, e.g. in leather, and keratins
in wool. These are among the oldest
biopolymers used.
5 The class of natural polyesters includes
polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), which
can be produced from microorganisms,
suberine from cork and shellac.
5 The industrially most important polyester
from a biogenic monomer is polylactic
acid (PLA). It is produced by the
fermentation of sugars into lactic acid
and subsequent polymerization.
5 Many other biogenic monomers for
the production of various polyesters
and polyamides are accessible by
fermentation of glucose, for example,
succinic acid, itaconic acid and
furandicarboxylic acid.
5 Cleavage reactions of oleochemicals
yield long-chain polyester and polyamide
monomers for special applications.
5 Bioethanol production from cane sugar,
for example, provides bioethylene glycol
and bioethylene for the substitution of
conventional petrochemical polymers.
Chapter 19 · Plastics from Nature - Biopolymers
19
? Ten Quickies
1. For which three different groups of
substances can the term “bioplastics” be
used?
2. Name three possible advantages
of biogenic plastics compared to
petrochemical plastics!
3. Are all biodegradable plastics suitable for
domestic compost? Explain your answer!
4. Which biogenic polymer is the oldest
thermoplastic? For what has it been used
and where can it still be found today?
5. Name three proteinogenic polymers that
have been used by humanity for clothing
for thousands of years!
6. What does the abbreviation PHA stand
for? What are they made of and how can
they be obtained industrially?
7. Explain the industrially most important
synthesis route for the production of
polylactic acid!
8. Which are the two most important
polymer classes that are produced based
on biogenic monomers?
9. Name four important dicarboxylic acids
that are used for the synthesis of biogenic
polymers from renewable raw materials.
From which classes of substrates can they
be produced?
10. Which short-chain biogenic diol is
a drop-in solution for an otherwise
petrochemically produced compound?
How is it produced?
References
Monographs and Review Articles
Sharma S, Kumar A (eds) (2019) Keratin as a protein
biopolymer - extraction from waste biomass and
applications. Springer Intern. Publ.
Di Lorenzo ML, Androsch R (eds) (2018) Synthesis, structure and properties of Poly(lactic acid). Springer
Intern. Publ.
Di Lorenzo ML, Androsch R (eds) (2018) Industrial Applications of Poly(lactic acid). Springer Intern. Publ.
Thakur VK, Thakur MK, Kessler MR (eds) (2017) Handbook
of composites from renewable materials. Wiley, 8 Volumes: Vol. 1: Structure and chemistry; Vol. 2: Design
and manufacturing; Vol. 3: Physico‐chemical and
mechanical characterization; Vol. 4: Functionalization; Vol. 5: Biodegradable materials; Vol. 6: Polymeric
polylactic acid, for example, whose
monomer (lactic acid) can be produced in
a natural way.
5 The proportion of renewable monomers
in a biopolymer can be determined and
tested using the radiocarbon dating.
5 Biopolymers also include plastics that
are biodegradable, irrespective of the
chemical origin of the monomers. Several
certificates and standards exist for the
biodegradability and composting of
biopolymers.
5 In some cases, plastics are also referred to
as biopolymers if they are biocompatible,
e.g. if they do not cause any rejection
reactions in the body when used as
implants.
5 Polysaccharides and their derivatives
such as cellulose esters, thermoplastic
starch and regenerated chitosan are
among the “classic” biopolymers that are
industrially used as plastics.
5 Another very important group are
proteinogenic biopolymers, such as
collagens, e.g. in leather, and keratins
in wool. These are among the oldest
biopolymers used.
5 The class of natural polyesters includes
polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), which
can be produced from microorganisms,
suberine from cork and shellac.
5 The industrially most important polyester
from a biogenic monomer is polylactic
acid (PLA). It is produced by the
fermentation of sugars into lactic acid
and subsequent polymerization.
5 Many other biogenic monomers for
the production of various polyesters
and polyamides are accessible by
fermentation of glucose, for example,
succinic acid, itaconic acid and
furandicarboxylic acid.
5 Cleavage reactions of oleochemicals
yield long-chain polyester and polyamide
monomers for special applications.
5 Bioethanol production from cane sugar,
for example, provides bioethylene glycol
and bioethylene for the substitution of
conventional petrochemical polymers.