Bioplastic is a type of plastic derived from plant products, such as soybean oil, corn or potato starch, unlike conventional plastics derived from petroleum.
Traditional plastics (polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS, PET, among others) are synthesized from petroleum by the petrochemical industry. The characteristic of this fossil fuel, its resistance to natural degradation and the fact that it is a source that, sooner or later, will end up being exhausted, has led some parts of the industry to look for alternatives. Polylactic acid, synthesized from corn, is one of the most promising, however it is still poor in mechanical properties, its cost is much higher compared to plastics of fossil origin and it cannot be recycled.[1].
Problems caused by plastic
When discarded, conventional plastic remains in the environment for centuries and in many cases is impossible to collect. Clogging sewers and drains, killing animals on land, rivers and oceans, and disfiguring streets, beaches and landscapes.
Current practices for managing plastic waste include incineration, landfilling, and recycling.[2] However:.
Bioplastics and sustainable development
One of the main problems with conventional plastic is the greenhouse emissions that occur as a result of its manufacturing. Bioplastic emits between 0.8 and 3.2 tons less carbon dioxide per ton than petroleum-derived plastic.[3].
The use of crops for the production of plastics is controversial, since there is greater concern about reducing hunger rates than the production of bioplastics, likewise obtaining plastic from renewable raw materials does not imply that it has social improvements, since it does not ensure sustainable practices, it does not ensure that the plastic is biodegradable or even that its production and use can be viable.[4].
In addition, some bioplastics are biodegradable plastics such as PLA (polylactic acid patented by Dow Chemical and assigned to Nature works), PSM (Plastarch Material) and PHB (Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate); and can be disposed of as organic waste. There are also such as Chitrine, PA-11 (polyamide 11) or polyethylene obtained 100% from sugar cane ethanol.
Bioplastics (in components)
Introduction
Bioplastic is a type of plastic derived from plant products, such as soybean oil, corn or potato starch, unlike conventional plastics derived from petroleum.
Traditional plastics (polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS, PET, among others) are synthesized from petroleum by the petrochemical industry. The characteristic of this fossil fuel, its resistance to natural degradation and the fact that it is a source that, sooner or later, will end up being exhausted, has led some parts of the industry to look for alternatives. Polylactic acid, synthesized from corn, is one of the most promising, however it is still poor in mechanical properties, its cost is much higher compared to plastics of fossil origin and it cannot be recycled.[1].
Problems caused by plastic
When discarded, conventional plastic remains in the environment for centuries and in many cases is impossible to collect. Clogging sewers and drains, killing animals on land, rivers and oceans, and disfiguring streets, beaches and landscapes.
Current practices for managing plastic waste include incineration, landfilling, and recycling.[2] However:.
Bioplastics and sustainable development
One of the main problems with conventional plastic is the greenhouse emissions that occur as a result of its manufacturing. Bioplastic emits between 0.8 and 3.2 tons less carbon dioxide per ton than petroleum-derived plastic.[3].
The use of crops for the production of plastics is controversial, since there is greater concern about reducing hunger rates than the production of bioplastics, likewise obtaining plastic from renewable raw materials does not imply that it has social improvements, since it does not ensure sustainable practices, it does not ensure that the plastic is biodegradable or even that its production and use can be viable.[4].
non-biodegradable bioplastics
For plastics derived from petroleum, there is oxobiodegradable technology. A small portion of heavy metal salts is added to the plastic so that the polymer chains disintegrate in just 3 or 5 years instead of the more than a hundred that it takes for conventional plastic. However, its use has been decreasing since it has been detected that plastic fragments[5] can migrate further and faster than complete plastic and even due to its smaller size it is easier for it to be ingested by a greater number of animals, thus entering the plastic into food chains and networks.
New pro-degrading technologies have emerged to ensure the reincorporation of plastic materials into the environment in an accelerated manner, in which plastic products, when discarded in garbage dumps by microbial action, use them as a substrate, producing biogas and biomass as by-products. Biogas can and should be used to recover energy and the byproducts such as CO2 can be used by trees and microalgae in the photosynthesis process. These new additives have the advantage of allowing the plastic to be recycled since it does not lose its mechanical properties, it does not disintegrate upon contact with air, light or heat and only through the action of anaerobic microorganisms that occur in landfills will the biodegradation of the plastic begin.
Production
Contenido
La producción de bioplástico es relativamente limitada y el precio aún es competitivo solo para ciertas aplicaciones específicas que requieren biodegradabilidad, por ejemplo películas agrícolas o implantes quirúrgicos. Pero esto cambia rápidamente, teniendo en cuenta la continua mejora técnica de los plásticos vegetales, la creciente regulación gubernamental contra la basura y la búsqueda de alternativas al petróleo y al gas natural. Para 2032, se espera que las ventas mundiales de bioplásticos alcancen alrededor de 11 mil millones de dólares estadounidenses, en comparación con alrededor de 1000 mil millones de dólares estadounidenses para el mercado general de todos plásticos.[6][7].
Developments
In 2004 NEC developed a plant plastic based on polylactic acid that had high fire resistance and did not require toxic chemical components such as halogens or phosphorus derivatives "Phosphorus (element)").
In 2005, in Japan, companies such as Fujitsu began to introduce bioplastics in the manufacture of some laptop computers.
Between 2005 and 2006, several models of Blu-ray discs in digital format made from bioplastics have been presented.
In 2018 Greenteam developed a bioplastic called Polivitalio). This material is soluble in water. This year, the first bag was produced industrially, developed based on this bioplastic.
And at the end of 2022 Greenteam "developed a bioplastic called Policanoico"). This material can be used as a substitute for traditional plastic. It is 100% biodegradable and compostable; It does not leave microplastics when it biodegrades, since it does not include them.
Challenges
It will be necessary to improve the mechanical and optical properties, etc., since bioplastics are poor in these properties and do not compete against conventional plastics. Likewise, it is currently not possible to recycle them, so when they are produced, disposable products are immediately generated without the opportunity to be reused or recycled, which does not help to solve the problems caused by the generation, management and disposal of waste, as well as the damage that could be generated in the ecosystems and in the flora and fauna.
[2] ↑ Mora Reyes, José Angel (23 de abril de 2004). «El problema de la basura en la Ciudad de México». El problema de la basura en Ciudad de México. Consultado el 24 de noviembre de 2024..: https://paot.org.mx/contenidos/paot_docs/pdf/basura_df.pdf
[4] ↑ Vázquez Morillas, Alethia; Espinoza Valdemar, Rosa Ma.; Beltrán Villavicencio, Margarita; Velasco Pérez, Maribel. «Bioplásticos y plásticos biodegradables». Bioplásticos. Consultado el 20 de noviembre de 2024.: https://anipac.org.mx/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/bioplasticos.pdf
[7] ↑ Jaso, Marco Aurelio (16 de diciembre de 2020). «El surgimiento de los bioplásticos: un estudio de nichos tecnológicos». Acta Universitaria 30: 1-24. ISSN 2007-9621. doi:10.15174/au.2020.2654. Consultado el 27 de noviembre de 2024.: https://www.actauniversitaria.ugto.mx/index.php/acta/article/view/2654
In addition, some bioplastics are biodegradable plastics such as PLA (polylactic acid patented by Dow Chemical and assigned to Nature works), PSM (Plastarch Material) and PHB (Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate); and can be disposed of as organic waste. There are also non-biodegradable bioplastics such as Chitrine, PA-11 (polyamide 11) or polyethylene obtained 100% from sugar cane ethanol.
For plastics derived from petroleum, there is oxobiodegradable technology. A small portion of heavy metal salts is added to the plastic so that the polymer chains disintegrate in just 3 or 5 years instead of the more than a hundred that it takes for conventional plastic. However, its use has been decreasing since it has been detected that plastic fragments[5] can migrate further and faster than complete plastic and even due to its smaller size it is easier for it to be ingested by a greater number of animals, thus entering the plastic into food chains and networks.
New pro-degrading technologies have emerged to ensure the reincorporation of plastic materials into the environment in an accelerated manner, in which plastic products, when discarded in garbage dumps by microbial action, use them as a substrate, producing biogas and biomass as by-products. Biogas can and should be used to recover energy and the byproducts such as CO2 can be used by trees and microalgae in the photosynthesis process. These new additives have the advantage of allowing the plastic to be recycled since it does not lose its mechanical properties, it does not disintegrate upon contact with air, light or heat and only through the action of anaerobic microorganisms that occur in landfills will the biodegradation of the plastic begin.
Production
Contenido
La producción de bioplástico es relativamente limitada y el precio aún es competitivo solo para ciertas aplicaciones específicas que requieren biodegradabilidad, por ejemplo películas agrícolas o implantes quirúrgicos. Pero esto cambia rápidamente, teniendo en cuenta la continua mejora técnica de los plásticos vegetales, la creciente regulación gubernamental contra la basura y la búsqueda de alternativas al petróleo y al gas natural. Para 2032, se espera que las ventas mundiales de bioplásticos alcancen alrededor de 11 mil millones de dólares estadounidenses, en comparación con alrededor de 1000 mil millones de dólares estadounidenses para el mercado general de todos plásticos.[6][7].
Developments
In 2004 NEC developed a plant plastic based on polylactic acid that had high fire resistance and did not require toxic chemical components such as halogens or phosphorus derivatives "Phosphorus (element)").
In 2005, in Japan, companies such as Fujitsu began to introduce bioplastics in the manufacture of some laptop computers.
Between 2005 and 2006, several models of Blu-ray discs in digital format made from bioplastics have been presented.
In 2018 Greenteam developed a bioplastic called Polivitalio). This material is soluble in water. This year, the first bag was produced industrially, developed based on this bioplastic.
And at the end of 2022 Greenteam "developed a bioplastic called Policanoico"). This material can be used as a substitute for traditional plastic. It is 100% biodegradable and compostable; It does not leave microplastics when it biodegrades, since it does not include them.
Challenges
It will be necessary to improve the mechanical and optical properties, etc., since bioplastics are poor in these properties and do not compete against conventional plastics. Likewise, it is currently not possible to recycle them, so when they are produced, disposable products are immediately generated without the opportunity to be reused or recycled, which does not help to solve the problems caused by the generation, management and disposal of waste, as well as the damage that could be generated in the ecosystems and in the flora and fauna.
[2] ↑ Mora Reyes, José Angel (23 de abril de 2004). «El problema de la basura en la Ciudad de México». El problema de la basura en Ciudad de México. Consultado el 24 de noviembre de 2024..: https://paot.org.mx/contenidos/paot_docs/pdf/basura_df.pdf
[4] ↑ Vázquez Morillas, Alethia; Espinoza Valdemar, Rosa Ma.; Beltrán Villavicencio, Margarita; Velasco Pérez, Maribel. «Bioplásticos y plásticos biodegradables». Bioplásticos. Consultado el 20 de noviembre de 2024.: https://anipac.org.mx/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/bioplasticos.pdf
[7] ↑ Jaso, Marco Aurelio (16 de diciembre de 2020). «El surgimiento de los bioplásticos: un estudio de nichos tecnológicos». Acta Universitaria 30: 1-24. ISSN 2007-9621. doi:10.15174/au.2020.2654. Consultado el 27 de noviembre de 2024.: https://www.actauniversitaria.ugto.mx/index.php/acta/article/view/2654