A Review on Biodegradable Polymeric Materials Derived from Vegetable Oils for Diverse Applications

Abstract

Non-biodegradable polymers are causing severe damage to the environment. To counter this, need of biodegradable polymers is gaining a rapid growth in numbers as well in their applications and quantities used. In addition, due to the oil crises worldwide, focuses from synthesizing polymers from petroleum has shifted to the synthesis of polymers from renewable resources such as vegetable oils. The advantage of vegetable oils is they are easily available, have multiple functional groups attached like the double bonds, hydroxyl groups and other functional groups, which provides ease of reactions and modification like epoxidation etc. The use of vegetable oils in the polymer renders biodegradability to the polymer. Different researchers have used different vegetables oils like castor oil, linseed oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil and canola oils for synthesis of polymers and utilized them in diverse fields like biomedical, coatings, adhesives, IPN's and as structural materials. This review discusses the synthesis, characterization, degradation and applications of polymers obtained from natural oils such as castor oil, soybean oil, linseed oil and some other oils.

Examining the epoxidation process of soybean oil by peracetic acid

“…Biodiesel fuel is obtained by the re-esterification of soybean oil [2]. Its use helps reduce the emission of particles; the given fuel is non-toxic, renewable and environmentally friendly.…”

“…Its use helps reduce the emission of particles; the given fuel is non-toxic, renewable and environmentally friendly. Applying the products based on soybean oil in color pencils make them non-toxic and safe for kids [2,4]. The properties of lubricants based on renewable raw materials (soybean) are similar to properties of the lubricating materials based on petroleum.…”

“…Economic value of vegetable oil can be improved through its epoxidation. Authors of [2] studied VO as an alternative raw material to replace petroleum. In particular, in order to obtain polymeric composite materials with current-conducting properties, a polymer matrix from natural and renewable sources such as soybean, linseed, sunflower oil was used [3].…”