May. 13, 2024
The process of manufacturing biodegradable plastics varies depending on the type of plastic being produced. However, several common steps are essential for producing all biodegradable plastics.
You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.
Specific raw materials are combined to create biodegradable plastics through handling, mixing, extrusion, and cooling processes. Pneumatic conveying systems and other bulk material handling systems are commonly used at the start of the manufacturing process for biodegradable plastics.
Bioplastics are often marketed as being eco-friendly, but do they truly live up to the hype?
Since the 1950s, over nine billion tons of plastic have been produced, with 165 million tons polluting our oceans and nearly 9 million more tons entering the oceans each year. Only about 9 percent of plastic gets recycled; the rest contributes to environmental pollution or sits in landfills, where it can take up to 500 years to decompose, releasing toxic chemicals into the ground.
Traditional plastic is made from petroleum-based raw materials. Bioplastics, made from 20 percent or more renewable materials, could be a solution to plastic pollution. The advantages of bioplastic often cited include reduced fossil fuel use, a smaller carbon footprint, and faster decomposition. Additionally, bioplastic is less toxic and free from bisphenol A (BPA), a hormone disruptor found in traditional plastics.
Kartik Chandran, a professor in the Earth and Environmental Engineering Department at Columbia University, is working on bioplastics. He believes that "bioplastics are a significant improvement compared to traditional plastics."
However, bioplastics are not yet a complete solution to our plastic problem.
There is often confusion when discussing bioplastics, so let's clarify some terms first.
Degradable – All plastic is degradable, even traditional plastic. But, just because it can break down into tiny fragments or powder does not mean it will return to nature. Additives in traditional plastics can make them degrade more quickly. Photodegradable plastic breaks down more readily in sunlight, while oxo-degradable plastic disintegrates faster when exposed to heat and light.
Biodegradable – Biodegradable plastic can completely break down into water, carbon dioxide, and compost by microorganisms under specific conditions. "Biodegradable" implies decomposition occurs within weeks to months. Bioplastics that don't biodegrade quickly are "durable," and some bioplastics made from biomass that microorganisms cannot easily break down are non-biodegradable.
Compostable – Compostable plastic will biodegrade in a compost site. Microorganisms break it down into carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass at the same rate as other organic materials in compost piles, leaving no toxic residue.
Bioplastics are currently used in disposable items like packaging, containers, straws, bags, and bottles, and in non-disposable applications like carpet, plastic piping, phone casings, 3D printing, car insulation, and medical implants. The global bioplastic market is projected to grow from $17 billion this year to almost $44 billion in 2022.
There are two main types of bioplastics.
PLA (polylactic acid) is typically made from the sugars in corn starch, cassava, or sugarcane. It is biodegradable, carbon-neutral, and edible. The process involves immersing corn kernels in sulfur dioxide and hot water, breaking down the starch, protein, and fiber. From there, the corn oil is separated from the starch, and citric acids are mixed in to create a long-chain polymer that serves as the building block for plastic.
PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) is produced by microorganisms, sometimes genetically engineered, that create plastic from organic materials. These microbes are given high levels of carbon but deprived of nutrients like nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus, leading them to produce and store PHA as carbon reserves.
While bioplastics are generally considered more eco-friendly than traditional plastics, a 2010 study from the University of Pittsburgh found that when considering materials' life cycles, this might not be true. Bioplastics production resulted in greater pollutants due to fertilizers and pesticides used in growing the crops and the chemical processing to turn organic material into plastic. Bioplastics also contributed more to ozone depletion than traditional plastics and required extensive land use.
HuaWei products are exported worldwide, catering to various industries with a priority on quality. We aim to provide our customers with high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.
Bioplastics do produce significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional plastics over their lifetime. There is no net increase in carbon dioxide when they break down because the plants used to make bioplastics absorbed that amount of carbon dioxide as they grew. A 2017 study concluded that switching from traditional plastic to corn-based PLA would cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent. If traditional plastics were produced using renewable energy sources, greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 50 to 75 percent. However, bioplastics made with renewable energy showed the most promise for significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Bioplastics' biodegradability is an advantage, but most require high-temperature industrial composting facilities to break down, and very few cities have the necessary infrastructure. Consequently, bioplastics often end up in landfills, where they may release methane, a greenhouse gas 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide, due to oxygen deprivation.
Improperly discarded bioplastics can contaminate batches of recycled plastic and harm recycling infrastructure. For example, if bioplastic contaminates recycled PET, the entire lot could be rejected and end up in a landfill. Thus, separate recycling streams are necessary to properly discard bioplastics.
Bioplastics' land requirements compete with food production, as crops that produce bioplastics can also feed people. The Plastic Pollution Coalition projects that by 2019, meeting the global demand for bioplastics will require more than 3.4 million acres of land. Additionally, the petroleum used to run farm machinery contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
Bioplastics are also relatively expensive, with PLA costing 20 to 50 percent more than comparable materials due to the complex process of converting corn or sugarcane into PLA. However, prices are decreasing as researchers and companies develop more efficient and eco-friendly production methods.
Kartik Chandran and Columbia University students are developing systems to produce biodegradable bioplastic from wastewater and solid waste. Chandran uses a mixed microbe community that feeds on carbon in the form of volatile fatty acids, such as acetic acid found in vinegar.
The system works by feeding wastewater into a bioreactor, where microorganisms convert the waste's organic carbon into volatile fatty acids. The outflow is then sent to a second bioreactor, where plastic-producing microbes feed on these acids and store carbon molecules as PHA. Chandran aims to maximize PHA production and integrate waste into the process, potentially making it more cost-effective than current methods.
He envisions a future where waste products are routinely converted into useful products like bioplastics.
Some companies are exploring innovative ways to produce bioplastics. Full Cycle Bioplastics in California produces PHA from organic waste, which is compostable, marine degradable, and can be reprocessed into virgin plastic. Renmatix in Pennsylvania uses woody biomass, energy grasses, and crop residue to produce bioplastics through a clean and inexpensive process. Scientists at Michigan State University utilize cyanobacteria to produce bioplastic, reducing reliance on food crops. Stanford University researchers are transforming methane gas into bioplastic, while the University of Bath in England is making polycarbonate from sugars and carbon dioxide.
Innovative methods to replace plastic include using red marine algae for packaging material and creating edible film from milk protein casein. Companies like Ecovative use mycelium for biodegradable materials. Though bioplastics currently face challenges, ongoing research and development efforts offer the potential to significantly reduce plastic pollution and our carbon footprint.
The company is the world’s best biodegradable plastic film manufacturer supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly specialized and will help you find the product you need.
If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us!
All Comments ( 0 )