Alternative to petrochemical polymers

In the past, plastics have been made from hydrocarbons. Now, with the development of new catalysts, they can also be made from agricultural products. The organic alternatives to petrochemical polymers cannot only... 

Polymer nanocomposites are a radical alternate to conventional polymer composites, where large amount of fillers are added to improve the properties. For polymer composite applications, the use of natural libers are preferred to efiiciently reduce the dependence on petrochemical-based plastics (Thakur et al. 2014d). Natural libers obtained from various plant sources as such or in the form of extracted cellulose have been frequently used for this application (Singa et al. 2009). Cellulose in nanodimensions generated from cellulose libers has much higher mechanical properties than those of natural libers. Hence CNs have attracted a great deal of interest in the polymer nanocomposite field. Due to their nanodimensions. 

In polymer applications derivatives of oils and fats, such as epoxides, polyols and dimerizations products based on unsaturated fatty acids, are used as plastic additives or components for composites or polymers like polyamides and polyurethanes. In the lubricant sector oleochemically-based fatty acid esters have proved to be powerful alternatives to conventional mineral oil products. For home and personal care applications a wide range of products, such as surfactants, emulsifiers, emollients and waxes, based on vegetable oil derivatives has provided extraordinary performance benefits to the end-customer. Selected products, such as the anionic surfactant fatty alcohol sulfate have been investigated thoroughly with regard to their environmental impact compared with petrochemical based products by life-cycle analysis. Other product examples include carbohydrate-based surfactants as well as oleochemical based emulsifiers, waxes and emollients. 

The production of polymers from renewable resources is attracting considerable attention, both from academic and industrial research interests. Currently, polymers are produced on an approximately 150 million ton scale per year and are mostly derived from petrochemicals, with approximately 7-8% of worldwide reserves being consumed each year [1]. Concerns regarding the long-term sustainability of such petrochemical feedstocks, coupled with increasing and fluctuating prices, environmental pollution and problems with security of supply, have driven research into alternative means to produce polymers. 

In nature, the availability of starch is just second to cellulose. The most important industrial sources of starch are corn, wheat, potato, tapioca and rice. In the last decade, there has been a significant reduction in the price of corn and potato starch, both in Europe and the USA. The lower price and greater availability of starch associated with its very favourable environmental profile aroused a renewed interest in development of starch-based polymers as an alternative to polymers based on petrochemicals. 

Biotec s product portfolio includes thermoplastic starch, which can be substituted for petrochemical based plastic packaging. Stanelco s radio frequency sealing technology can be used to process starch polymers without the degradation caused by other methods such as thermal processing. The purchase of Biotec will help the company develop alternatives to petroleum-based packaging. 

Lactic acid is commonly found, which contributes to its wide use in food and food-related industries. It also has the potential for production of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers. These products have been proven to be environmentally friendly alternatives to biodegradable plastics derived from petrochemical materials (Zhang, Jin, and Kelly, 2007). Lactic acid is slightly lipid soluble and diffuses slowly through the cell membrane. As a result of this, the disruption of the cell pH is not its main mode of inhibition (Gravesen et al., 2004). 

Polylactic acid (PLA) has caught the attention of polymer scientist and proving to be a viable alternative biopolymer to petrochemical based plastics for many applications. PLA is produced from lactic acid, that is derived itself from the fermentation of corn or sugar beet and due to its biodegradation ability, PLA presents the major advantage to enter in the natural cycle implying its return to the biomass. The life-cycle of PLA is shown in Fig. 11.1. 

Besides the food, pharmaceutical and paper industries, the availability of starch associated to its renewability aroused, since the late 1980s, an increasing interest in the sector of polymers. Starch can either be used as an alternative to polymers based on petrochemicals due to its... 

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