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Enables Readers to Understand the What, Why, and How Behind Using Sustainable Plastics in Manufacturing Operations The impact of 50 years of unbridled plastics production, use, and disposal is now becoming well known and documented. Plastics made from non-renewable petroleum and natural gas resources threaten the environment, human health, species maintenance, and the very life of the ocean. This book helps readers understand the ability of plastics to be sustainable and goes over the plastic products which have a lower carbon footprint, lower waste, and lower pollution. The well-qualified author's unique perspective puts a special focus on comprehensive coverage of environmental impacts of plastics including Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and sustainability strategies related to biobased plastics (e.g., corn), recycled plastics, and petroleum-based plastics. Other samples topics covered in the book include: End-of-life options for petroleum and biobased plastics including mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and composting ASTM biodegradation standards for compost, marine, anaerobic digestion, and landfill environments Polymer processing, including injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, and compression molding Environmental data and coverage of petroleum plastics, sustainable composites, and new information on bio-based plasticsThe book serves as an invaluable resource for plastics engineers, materials engineers, and all professionals in related disciplines looking to understand and apply the usage of sustainable plastics in many different types of manufacturing operations.

Biodegradable Polymers in the Circular Plastics Economy A comprehensive overview of the burgeoning field of biodegradable plastics As the lasting impact of humanity's reliance on plastics comes into focus, scholars have begun to seek out solutions to plastic litter. In Biodegradable Polymers in the Circular Plastics Economy, an accomplished team of researchers delivers a focused guide (1) to understand plastic degradation and its role in waste hierarchy besides recycling, and (2) to create and use biodegradable plastics where appropriate. Created preferably from renewable resources, these eco-friendly polymers provide an opportunity to create sustainable and lasting solutions to the growing plastic-driven pollution problem. The broad approach to this handbook allows the authors to cover all aspects of these emerging materials, ranging from the problems present in the current plastics cycle, to the differences in type, production, and chemistry available within these systems, to end-of-life via recycling or degradation, and to life-cycle assessments. It also delves into potential commercial and policy issues to be addressed to successfully deploy this technology. Readers will also find: A thorough introduction to biodegradable polymers, focusing not only on the scientific aspects, but also addressing the larger political, commercial, and consumer concerns Mechanisms of biodegradation and the environmental impact of persistent polymers An in-depth discussion of degradable/hydrolysable polyesters, polysaccharides, lignin-based polymers, and vitrimers Management of plastic waste and life cycle assessment of bio-based plastics Biodegradable Polymers in the Circular Plastics Economy is the perfect overview of this complicated but essential research field and will appeal to polymer chemists, environmental chemists, chemical engineers, and bioengineers in academia and industry. The book is intended as a step towards a circular plastics economy that relies heavily on degradable plastics to sustain it.

Presenting a comprehensive overview of the field, Biofiller-Reinforced Biodegradable Polymer Composites examines biodegradable composites derived from biofiller and biodegradable polymers while providing critical information for efficient use of biocomposites developed from natural resources. Discusses advanced techniques for the use of both biofiller and biodegradable polymers as the matrix for composites. Highlights application of both natural fiber and natural matrix for composites in the development of environmentally friendly and sustainable materials. Introduces the basics of biocomposites, the processing and characteristics of new composite materials, and new combinations of composites such as soy protein and nanocellulose. Elaborates on the introduction of new materials to develop biodegradable polymers. This book has been written for researchers, advanced students, and professional engineers and materials scientists working in the area of bio-based polymers, natural fiber composites, and biocomposites.

The recent explosion of interdisciplinary research has fragmented the knowledge base surrounding renewable polymers. The Chemistry of Bio-based Polymers, 2nd edition brings together, in one volume, the research and work of Professor Johannes Fink, focusing on biopolymers that can be synthesized from renewable polymers. After introducing general aspects of the field, the book's subsequent chapters examine the chemistry of biodegradable polymeric types sorted by their chemical compounds, including the synthesis of low molecular compounds. Various categories of biopolymers are detailed including vinyl-based polymers, acid and lactone polymers, ester and amide polymers, carbohydrate-related polymers and others. Procedures for the preparation of biopolymers and biodegradable nanocomposites are arranged by chemical methods and in vitro biological methods, with discussion of the issue of'plastics from bacteria.'The factors influencing the degradation and biodegradation of polymers used in food packaging, exposed to various environments, are detailed at length. The book covers the medical applications of bio-based polymers, concentrating on controlled drug delivery, temporary prostheses, and scaffolds for tissue engineering. Professor Fink also addresses renewable resources for fabricating biofuels and argues for localized biorefineries, as biomass feedstocks are more efficiently handled locally.

Soy and its coproducts are rapidly emerging as one of the most prominent sustainable plastics of the 21st century. The relative abundance of soy and its functional and thermoplastic properties, low cost, and biodegradable characteristics have made it a material of great interest for widespread use in the plastics industry. As most of the functional properties of the final products are directly related to the physico-chemical properties of the raw material, a detailed knowledge of the inherent characteristics of soy-based materials is essential for understanding and manipulating their properties for better end-user applications. This book summarises in a most comprehensive manner the recent technical research accomplishments in the area of soy-based bioplastics. The prime aim and focus of this book is to present recent advances in the processing and applications of soy-based biopolymers as potential bioplastics. It reflects recent theoretical advances and experimental results, and opens new avenues for researchers as well as readers working in the field of plastics and sustainable materials. The different topics covered in this book include: structural analysis of soy-based materials; soy/biopolymer blends; films, fibres, foams, and composites; and different advanced applications. In addition, several critical issues and suggestions for future work are comprehensively discussed in the hope that the book will provide a deep insight into the state of the art of soy-based bioplastics. The book is unique, with contributions from leading experts in the bioplastics research area, and is a useful reference for scientists, academics, research scholars, and technologists.

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a thermoplastic biodegradable polyester, which has had biomedical application in the 1970s and 1980s as a long-term drug delivery systems, which then gained acceptance from the Food and Drugs Administration. However, due to very slow degradation, PCL was replaced by faster degrading polymers, such as polyglycolide, polylactides and their copolymers. The polymer gained popularity again in the 1990s, together with the development of tissue engineering. This book discusses the properties, applications and examines new research of polycaprolactones.

This volume incorporates 13 contributions from renowned experts from the relevant research fields that are related biodegradable and biobased polymers and their environmental and biomedical applications. Specifically, the book highlights: Developments in polyhydroxyalkanoates applications in agriculture, biodegradable packaging material and biomedical field like drug delivery systems, implants, tissue engineering and scaffolds The synthesis and elaboration of cellulose microfibrils from sisal fibres for high performance engineering applications in various sectors such as the automotive and aerospace industries, or for building and construction The different classes and chemical modifications of tannins Electro-activity and applications of Jatropha latex and seed The synthesis, properties and applications of poly(lactic acid) The synthesis, processing and properties of poly(butylene succinate), its copolymers, composites and nanocomposites The different routes for preparation polymers from vegetable oil and the effects of reinforcement and nano-reinforcement on the physical properties of such biobased polymers The different types of modified drug delivery systems together with the concept of the drug delivery matrix for controlled release of drugs and for antitumor drugs The use of nanocellulose as sustainable adsorbents for the removal of water pollutants mainly heavy metal ions, organic molecules, dyes, oil and CO2 The main extraction techniques, structure, properties and different chemical modifications of lignins Proteins and nucleic acids based biopolymers The role of tamarind seed polysaccharide-based multiple-unit systems in sustained drug release

Collating otherwise hard-to-get and recently acquired knowledge in one work, this is a comprehensive reference on the synthesis, properties, characterization, and applications of this eco-friendly class of plastics. A group of internationally renowned researchers offer their first-hand experience and knowledge, dealing exclusively with those biodegradable polyesters that have become increasingly important over the past two decades due to environmental concerns on the one hand and newly-devised applications in the biomedical field on the other. The result is an unparalleled overview for the industrial chemist and materials scientist, as well as for developers and researchers in industry and academia alike.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a synthetic and biodegradable polymer. PLA can have important applications in tissue engineering as three-dimensional porous structures. Biodegradable polymers are used in medicine to replace and increase the volume of tissues, as tissue supports and also for controlled drug release. One of the most widely used biodegradable polymers is polylactic acid (PLA), as it is easily biodegraded. This material is used as microspheres or microcapsules to host a broad diversity of drugs, such as antiinflamatory, anticonceptives, narcotics antagonists, local anesthetics and vaccines. This book discusses new developments in the research of polylactic acid.

An exhaustive and timely overview of renewable polymers from a respected chemist and successful author The recent explosion of interdisciplinary research has fragmented the knowledge base surrounding renewable polymers. The Chemistry of Bio-based Polymers brings together, in one volume, the research and work of Professor Johannes Fink, focusing on biopolymers that can be synthesized from renewable polymers. After introducing general aspects of the field, the book's subsequent chapters examine the chemistry of biodegradable polymeric types sorted by their chemical compounds, including the synthesis of low molecular compounds. Various categories of biopolymers are detailed including vinyl-based polymers, acid and lactone polymers, ester and amide polymers, carbohydrate-related polymers and others. Procedures for the preparation of biopolymers and biodegradable nanocomposites are arranged by chemical methods and in vitro biological methods, with discussion of the issue of “plastics from bacteria.” The factors influencing the degradation and biodegradation of polymers used in food packaging, exposed to various environments, are detailed at length. The book covers the medical applications of bio-based polymers, concentrating on controlled drug delivery, temporary prostheses, and scaffolds for tissue engineering. Professor Fink also addresses renewable resources for fabricating biofuels and argues for localized biorefineries, as biomass feedstocks are more efficiently handled locally. Audience The Chemistry of Bio-based Polymers will be read by chemists, polymer and materials scientists, chemical, bio-based, and biomedical engineers, agricultural and environmental faculty and all those who work in the bioeconomy area. This book will be critical for engineers in a number of industries including food packaging, medical devices, personal care, fuels, auto, and construction.

Providing guidelines for implementing sustainable practices for traditional petroleum based plastics, biobased plastics, and recycled plastics, Sustainable Plastics and the Environment explains what sustainable plastics are, why sustainable plastics are needed, which sustainable plastics to use, and how manufacturing companies can integrate them into their manufacturing operations. A vital resource for practitioners, scientists, researchers, and students, the text includes impacts of plastics including Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and sustainability strategies related to biobased plastics and petroleum based plastics as well as end-of-life options for petroleum and biobased plastics.

Biodegradable polymers are niche but ever-expanding market materials finding focused applications in sectors where biodegradability, together with the performances they attain during use, offers systematic environmental benefits: agricultural applications, packaging, catering, hygiene and slow release items. They represent a highly promising solution, since they have the potential to overcome environmental concerns such as the decreasing availability of landfill space and the depletion of petrochemical resources, and also offer a sustainable alternative option to mechanical and chemical recycling. Handbook of Biodegradable Polymers, 2nd Edition is a complete guide to the subject of biodegradable polymers and is ideal for those new to the subject or those wanting to supplement their existing knowledge. This handbook covers the mechanisms of degradation in various environments, by both biological and nonbiological means, and the methods for measuring biodegradation. It also provides a discussion of international and national standards and certification procedures developed to ensure accurate communication of a material's biodegradability between producers, authorities and consumers. This updated edition of the handbook goes on to consider the characteristics, processability and application areas of biodegradable polymers, with key polymer family groups discussed(polyhydroxyalkanoates, starch, lactic acid-based polymers, aliphatic-aromatic polyesters and protein-based materials), to explore the role of biodegradable polymers in different waste management practices including anaerobic digestion, and to consider topics such as the different types of biorefineries for renewable monomers used in producing the building blocks for biodegradable polymers.

Polylactic Acid (PLA) is the first viable thermoplastic that can be produced from a plant-based feedstock such as corn or sugar cane, and yet be processed by the conventional melt processing technologies. At the same time, Polylactic Acid is produced at the largest industrial scale of all biodegradable polymers. It is being used in biomedical applications, for bottle production and in compostable food packaging. It is also being evaluated as a material for tissue engineering. Mass production has tremendously reduced the cost of PLA production, making it an economically viable choice for fabrication of domestic containers, plastic bags, and fibers. Commercial-scale plants today produce hundreds of thousand tons of PLA per year.This book provides a practical guide for the engineers and scientists involved in working with PLA and developing the many new products that are emerging for this important biopolymer. The current market situation for PLA and biodegradable polymers is described as well as applications across a range of market sectors, and the mechanical, chemical, thermal, rheology, and degradation properties of PLA. An essential reference for engineers, scientists and product designers considering switching to a sustainable plastic Covers the properties, synthesis and polymerization of PLA, and processing techniques involved in fabricating parts from this polymer

This book focuses on biodegradable polymers that are already in clinical use or under clinical development. Synthetic and natural polymers will be included. This excludes polymers that have been investigated and did not reach clinical development. The purpose of this book is to provide updated status of the polymers that are clinical use and those that are now being developed for clinical use and hopefully will reach the clinic during the next 5 years. The book provides information that of interest to academics and practicing researchers including chemists, biologists and bioengineers and users: physicians, pharmacists.

This book describes the synthesis, properties, and processing methods of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), an important family of degradable plastics. As the need for environmentally-friendly packaging materials increases, consumers and companies are in search for new materials that are largely produced from renewable resources, and are recyclable. To that end, an overall theme of the book is the biodegradability, recycling, and sustainability benefits of PLA. The chapters, from a base of international expert contributors, describe specific processing methods, spectroscopy techniques for PLA analysis, and and applications in medical items, packaging, and environmental use.

Biodegradable Polymer Blends and Composites from Renewable Resources provides a comprehensive, current overview of biopolymeric blends and composites and their applications in various industries. The book is organized according to the type of blend or composite. For each topic, the relationship between the structure of the blends/composites and their respective properties is explored, with particular focus on interface, compatibility, mechanical, and thermal properties. Real-life applications and potential markets are discussed. This is a premier reference for graduate students and researchers in polymer science, chemical and bio engineering, and materials science.

Compostable Polymer Materials deals with an environmentally important family of polymers designed to be disposed of in industrial and municipal compost facilities after their useful life. These compostable plastics undergo degradation and leave no visible, distinguishable or toxic residue. Environmental concerns and legislative measures taken in different regions of the world make composting an increasingly attractive route for the disposal of redundant polymers. This book provides up–to-date results and information about compostable polymer materials in a coherent and comprehensive manner. It covers the entire spectrum of preparation, properties, degradation, and environmental issues. The emphasis is on recent studies concerning compostability and ecotoxicological assessment of polymer materials-–important issues from the ecological point of view. Moreover, the thermal behavior of compostable polymers is described. Their price evolution over the past decade, an estimation of the market and future perspectives are presented. Focus on the composting process, compostability standards, compost quality and composting studies Coherent and uniformly presented information about methods of preparation; properties, processing and applications Up-to-date information on ecotoxicity testing and studies of polymers Overview of thermal stability and thermal degradation process of compostable polymer materials Presents future perspectives of compostable polymers, including evolution of price during last decade Information about waste management evolution in Europe, USA and Asia (China) with emphasis on composting during the last decade