Unlike bioplastic, traditional plastic is one of the most widely used materials for making products of various types, but at the same time, it is one of the most polluting elements on the planet.
To manufacture plastics, compounds derived from oil are processed, which have the qualities of being resistant and take between 100 and 400 years to degrade.
Because of this, a solution has been sought to continue using a material as resistant as plastic, but without affecting the environment.
That solution is bioplastic, a type of plastic that has the same resistance when making products, but with the quality of degrading.
Continue in Greenuso and discover everything you need to know about this innovative material, made from biological materials.
Table of Contents
What are bioplastics?
Bioplastic is a type of plastic, made from biological plants or materials and not the typical petroleum-based ingredients. It is usually used to make products that are usually single-use.
It is made with polyhydroxyalkanoates or polylactic acids, which come from microorganisms and plants. Regardless of the raw material it is made from, bioplastics are used to manufacture everything from containers to medical devices.
The bioplastic is disposed of with in the organic waste container and when it is combined with the microorganisms in the organic waste, it degrades.
Although the traditional plastic is replaced by bioplastics when manufacturing the products, their disposal does not generate a negative impact on the environment due to their capacity to degrade.
Types and process of manufacturing bioplastics
To make bioplastics, three different processes are followed, which are divided into basic process, medium process and complex process.
In turn, each process differs in:
- The raw material used to manufacture bioplastics.
- The qualities expected of bioplastics.
- The type of machinery used.
As a result of these manufacturing processes, the types of bioplastics are those that come from renewable raw materials, those that are extracted by bacterial culture samples or those that are manufactured with synthetic biodegradable polymers.
Basic process
Bioplastics are those obtained from monomers extracted from biomass such as starch, cellulose or starch.
They are also produced by the fermentation of organic matter, which is then polymerised.
The basic process of manufacturing bioplastics begins with cooking ingredients that have natural polymers, such as cornstarch or potato starch, and then pouring them into molds.
In other words, during this process, natural polymers are mixed with glycerin and cooked over low heat. When they have thickened, they are placed in a mould and left to dry completely.
Thanks to this process, the bioplastic is obtained from organic or renewable raw materials.
Medium process
This type of plastic is produced with biomass monomers, during the manufacturing process of medium difficulty, natural polymers are synthesized.
An example of the process of medium difficulty, is evident in the process of transformation of sugar cane, specifically when the sugar is separated to extract ethanol.
This ethanol is subjected to a dehydration process, in which the ethylene is obtained to be polymerized
To finish and elaborate the bioplastic, thermoforming machines are needed to shape the products.
Complex processes
This type of process uses two biotechnological tools for its elaboration.
It can be made by polymerizing the monomers obtained from the organic raw material, through chemicals or by fermenting organic waste.
To create the bioplastic that requires complex processes, bacterial cultures are used that need a great investment in biotechnology, due to the specific conditions to which they must be submitted.
This process requires raw material such as organic waste, which is placed in culture media to extract the microorganisms and the polymers they contain.
In addition to organic waste, plastic can also be made from certain types of plants such as microalgae. These types of plants can produce a type of hydrocarbon useful for making bioplastics.
Advantages of using bioplastics
The bioplastic was created with the objective of having a good quality in the manufacture of plastic products without contaminating the environment, and so far it has been achieved.
As no oil resources are used, their use reduces pollution levels.
Moreover, during its manufacturing process, a large amount of energy is not wasted and no greenhouse gases are produced.
Also, they do not have additives within their components such as phthalates, bisphenol A and others that contribute to the delay of the plastic’s decomposition process.
You do not have to worry about the products you are going to store, this type of plastic does not transmit odors.
How do I dispose of the bioplastic?
Depending on the type of manufacture, bioplastics can be used as compost, recycled, landfilled or treated in composting plants.
When the bioplastic is taken to composting plants, it is placed in a heat chamber where microorganisms are broken down in a short time.
However, the decomposition time of bioplastic is much faster than that of petroleum-based plastic.
Bioplastics have an established use of 18 months after their manufacture has been completed, however, this can vary.
However, it can take a year or three years for them to degrade and be absorbed by the environment.
It is important not to combine bioplastic with conventional plastic, so as not to delay, vary or hinder the recycling or degradation process.
Can you make your own bioplastic?
You may think that bioplastic has a complicated manufacturing process. However, you can make a bioplastic at home that can be used in many different ways in your home.
To make it you need a cup of water, cloves, 30 grams of cornstarch, thyme, a spoonful of glycerine, cinnamon, a spoonful of white vinegar, fruit peels, a mold and a pot
As a first step, you should mix the 30 grams of cornstarch with the spoonful of vinegar, the spoonful of glycerine and the cup of water, until you get a homogeneous mixture.
Pour this mixture into a pot, heat it over a low heat and do not stop stirring to avoid the appearance of lumps.
Crush the peels of the fruits and mix them with a little water. When you are done, join the mixture you were heating with the crushed fruit peels.
It serves the content in the mold and spreads it over the surface without leaving empty spaces. Let the mixture dry for more than a day so that it remains solid.
If you use a flat surface – such as a tray – as a mold, you will have a sheet of bioplastic that you can use to cover and protect any object you have at home.
