Application of Bioplastics in Agro-Based Industries and Bioremediation

Abstract

Bioplastics are the plastics composed from the biomass of corn, sugarcane, etc., which nowadays form an eco-friendly system that saves fuel burning, CO2 emission, and plastic. There are emerging interests in agro-based research packaging for designing cost-effective bioplastics, thanks to the heavy burden of diseases from petroleum products. Plastic industries are among the foremost important and regularly applied industries within the globe, and they are widely employed due to its biodegradability nature. Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) are naturally produced by microorganisms that can be considered as a substitute for the standard plastics. These biodegradable materials are currently providing a sustainable alternative to petroleum feedstock. Mostly, biodegradable polymers get hydrolyzed into biomass, CH4, CO2, and other inorganic compounds. The utilization of bioorigin materials in food packaging has led to the tremendous innovation during last couple of years, which were obtained through microbial fermentations (e.g., starch and cellulose). The plant-based bioplastics are considered to be more durable, cost-effective, chemical independent, highly immune to microwaves, and less brittle. It is concluded that the assembly and use of bioplastics will aid in the sustainability of the environment by reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs), reduction in waste biomass, and as a substitute to petroplastics.

Keywords Bioplastics, Pros and cons of bioplastics, Applications, Production of bioplastics