Renewable bio-based materials: A journey towards the development of sustainable ecosystem
Authors :- Upadhyay N.; Tripathi S.; Kushwaha A.; Bhasney S.M.; Mishra M.
Publication :- Bio-Based Materials and Waste for Energy Generation and Resource Management Present and Emerging Waste Management Practices, Volume 5 in Advanced Zero Waste Tools, 2023, Pages 31-75
Nowadays, the development of bio-based materials is driving great interest due to the ongoing environmental concerns associated with synthetic polymers and the fact that fossil-based resources are limited. Bio-based polymeric materials made from renewable resources pave the way to sustainability owing to their renewable and bio-degradable nature and offer advanced characteristics for novel applications compared to traditional polymers. The present chapter encompasses a comprehensive overview of current advances in the manufacturing and commercialization of various bio-based polymers and bio-composite materials developed from renewable resources. It covers a wide spectrum of bio-based polymers, categorized as natural polymers (polysaccharides and proteins), microbial polymers (PHAs), polymer synthesized from bio-based monomers (PLA, PBS), and polymer analogous to petroleum-derived polymers (such as bio-polyethylene), with emphasis on generic production methods, processing techniques, characteristics, and emerging applications. The chapter further discusses a detailed overview of recent studies involved in developing biocompatible and functional biocomposites. It will provide important information on the limits and prospects of commercializing these innovative bio-based polymer materials and biocomposites for several applications, such as biomedical, automobile, construction, packaging, healthcare, biomedical, automobile, textile industry, and engineering fields.