A RENEWABLE SOURCES BIOPLASTICS
Rashmi G S
Guest Lecturer
Dept of Chemistry, GFGC Tumkur
rashmi.rashmi.gs5@gmail.com
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light. A new addition to the substance causing pollution is plastic.
Plastic pollution is nothing but the accumulation of plastic substances on the earth’s surface leading adverse effect to environment affecting wildlife, wildlife habitat and human beings. Plastic is the third most commonly used petroleum derivatives in the world, each year 200 million tons of plastic are consumed on the planet. It comes from a non renewable source (petroleum), it is contaminating and non biodegradable ( it can take more than 1000 years to decompose).
To overcome this plastic pollution an alternative to plastics i.e., bio-plastics can be used.
Bioplastics are the materials that are obtained from renewable sources and can be used to reduce the problem of plastic waste. Bio plastics can be made from renewable sources such as vegetable fats and oils, corn starch etc. They can also be made from agricultural byproducts and also from used plastic bottles and other containers using microorganisms.
Advantages of Bioplastics
Uses of Bioplastics
As bioplastics are made from biomass they undergo biodegradation and hence do not cause threat or pollution to environment and can replace plastics in all fields.