(THE GIST OF PIB) Biopolymers

(THE GIST OF PIB) Biopolymers

(OCTOBER-2024)

Biopolymers

• Recently, the Union Minister inaugurated India’s first Demonstration Facility for Biopolymers in Pune.

About Biopolymers:

• These are materials that have been manufactured from biological sources such as fats, vegetable oils, sugars, resins, and proteins.

• The biopolymers have more complex structures than synthetic polymers therefore they are more active in vivo.

• Furthermore, as biopolymers are biodegradable their decomposition is easily done by bacteria in the soil environment, as compared to synthetic polymers which cause environmental pollution due to incineration.

Characteristics

• They can control the life processes of living organisms and are environmentally friendly.

• They are decomposed by the processes named –oxidation (mainly reaction with oxygen), hydrolysis (decomposition by water) or by some enzymes.

• Some of them are compostable and can show some chemical properties on their surface.

• Biopolymers like polylactic acid, polyglycolate, poly 3-hydroxy butyrate etc. may show plastic properties and instead.

Benefits:

• These polymers can reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and also decrease carbon emissions.

• This happens because bio-degradation of these chemical compounds can release carbon dioxide that can be reabsorbed by crops grown as a substitute in their place.

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Courtesy: PIB