Progress in Sustainable Polymers from Biological Matter

Abstract

The increasing consumption of nonrenewable materials urgently calls for the design and fabrication of sustainable alternatives. New generations of materials should be derived from renewable sources, processed using environmentally friendly methods, and designed considering their full life cycle, especially their end-of-life fate. Here, we review recent advances in developing sustainable polymers from biological matter (biomatter), including progress in the extraction and utilization of bioderived monomers and polymers, as well as the emergence of polymers produced directly from unprocessed biomatter (entire cells or tissues). We also discuss applications of sustainable polymers in bioplastics, biocomposites, and cementitious biomaterials, with emphasis on relating their performance to underlying fundamental mechanisms. Finally, we provide a future outlook for sustainable material development, highlighting the need for more accurate and accessible tools for assessing life-cycle impacts and socioeconomic challenges as this field advances. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Materials Research, Volume 53 is July 2023. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Long-Term Hindrance Effects of Algal Biomatter on the Hydration Reactions of Ordinary Portland Cement

“…These processing routes are typically low yield, as only a small fraction of the dry mass is extracted as a product, while the remaining parts of the biomass are manufacturing waste. A recently emerging and more sustainable alternative − suggests using fast-growing, untreated plant, algal, or microbial biomatter, in the form of intact cells or tissues, as a polymeric matrix or filler material, aiming to capitalize on raw biomatter to function as a renewable material platform that potentially can lead to wasteless processes. Photosynthetic biomatter in particular, such as plant or algal cells, can effectively serve as carbon-negative matrix materials or additives.…”

An Ultramicroporous Graphene-Based 3D Structure Derived from Cellulose-Based Biomass for High-Performance CO2 Capture

“…Carbonaceous materials have garnered significant attention as adsorbents owing to their favorable characteristics, such as cost-effectiveness, large specific surface area, high pore volume, thermal stability, variety of pore structures, and the ability to easily modify surface functional groups . Various carbon resources such as charcoal, petroleum, polymers, and biomass have been used to develop novel porous carbons that exhibit improved adsorption properties and selectivity for specific gases. − Recently, natural cellulose-based biomasses, such as bagasse, wood fibers, chitin, cotton, bacterial cellulose, and lignocellulose, have emerged as eco-friendly and efficient sources of carbon-based active materials. − Pyrolysis involving sequential carbonization and physical and chemical activation is typically employed to produce char (biochar and hydrochar) and activated carbon. The biomass-based resources are generally pyrolyzed at temperatures ranging from 600 to 1000 °C under ambient gas or air.…”

Fabricating Strong and Stiff Bioplastics from Whole Spirulina Cells

“…The total amount of plastic produced by 2050 is predicted to be 33 billion tons, compared to 0.28 billion tons in 2012. [1] As a result of improper DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202302067 classification, sorting, and disposal strategies, plastic waste collects in landfills, waterways, and oceans, causing significant hazards to human health and the environment. [2][3][4][5] The chemical stability of common plastics makes them attractive for numerous applications, but is also responsible for slow degradation rates, which allow them to permeate the environment before fully degrading.…”

“…[20] The applications of TPS are limited by its relatively low strength of less than 6 MPa. [18,19] Lignocellulosic polymers can provide a biobased source for materials with higher strength and stiffness values due to the inherent high degree of crystallinity and strength of cellulose, [1,18,[21][22][23][24] and can be considered carbon sinks when made from waste biomass that would otherwise be incinerated. Still, the extraction of cellulose from biomass involves multi-step processes and harsh chemicals.…”

“…[28] In an effort to circumvent extraction processes, biobased and compostable materials produced from whole plant, bacterial, fungal, or algal biomass, without extracting components, have been reported. [1,24,[29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36] Among the studied organisms, algal species can be considered as a potentially disruptive material platform as they grow rapidly in a wide variety of natural aquatic environments as well as in cultures. [28,30] This versatility may allow for algae to be grown in close proximity to facilities where they are transformed into bioplastic materials, reducing transportation emissions and costs.…”