Contribution of Fermentation Technology to Building Blocks for Renewable Plastics

Abstract

Large-scale worldwide production of plastics requires the use of large quantities of fossil fuels, leading to a negative impact on the environment. If the production of plastic continues to increase at the current rate, the industry will account for one fifth of global oil use by 2050. Bioplastics currently represent less than one percent of total plastic produced, but they are expected to increase in the coming years, due to rising demand. The usage of bioplastics would allow the dependence on fossil fuels to be reduced and could represent an opportunity to add some interesting functionalities to the materials. Moreover, the plastics derived from bio-based resources are more carbon-neutral and their manufacture generates a lower amount of greenhouse gasses. The substitution of conventional plastic with renewable plastic will therefore promote a more sustainable economy, society, and environment. Consequently, more and more studies have been focusing on the production of interesting bio-based building blocks for bioplastics. However, a coherent review of the contribution of fermentation technology to a more sustainable plastic production is yet to be carried out. Here, we present the recent advancement in bioplastic production and describe the possible integration of bio-based monomers as renewable precursors. Representative examples of both published and commercial fermentation processes are discussed.

Sustainable Alternatives to Nondegradable Medical Plastics

“…To date, numerous investigations are going on with bio-Pe and bio-PP production by utilizing different catalysts. 139,140 Further studies are on demand to extract information regarding the manufacturing process and to extrapolate the developed bioversions of plastics in their working conditions.…”

“…Thus far, the bioversions of PE and PP lag in the establishment of commercialized market products, ascribed to their material costs and narrow processing window. , For example, the first and the most important step of bio-PE and bio-PP production is the conversion of bioethanol to biomonomer by dehydration. To date, numerous investigations are going on with bio-Pe and bio-PP production by utilizing different catalysts. , Further studies are on demand to extract information regarding the manufacturing process and to extrapolate the developed bioversions of plastics in their working conditions.…”

Hop natural fiber-reinforced poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA) biodegradable plastics: effect of fiber length on the performance of biocomposites

“…SA has been traditionally synthesized using petroleumbased maleic anhydride and, most recently, via fermentation of sugars. 15,18,19,[21][22][23] Song and Lee in 2006 reported, in general, that the price of SA was between 5 and 9 USD per kilogram. 24 They also compared maleic anhydride (petrol-based) and glucose prices (0.977 USD and 0.39 USD, respectively), both precursors for SA.…”

“…22,24 Lomwongsopon and Varrone report that the production of bioplastics (including all types; bio-and nonbiodegradable or biobased) represents less than 1% of the total annual production of plastics. 21 Interestingly, even with this relatively low global production, the manufacture and marketing of biopolymers show that the process is industrially and commercially feasible and socially accepted. 21 The example of lactic acid as a platform for the industrial production of poly(lactic acid) also shows the economic and technical feasibility of the industrial fermentative processes and suggests a bright future for biobased and/or biodegradable plastics.…”

“…21 Interestingly, even with this relatively low global production, the manufacture and marketing of biopolymers show that the process is industrially and commercially feasible and socially accepted. 21 The example of lactic acid as a platform for the industrial production of poly(lactic acid) also shows the economic and technical feasibility of the industrial fermentative processes and suggests a bright future for biobased and/or biodegradable plastics. 21,25 The study carried out by Perez-Camargo et al illustrated the synthesis of poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA).…”