Biopol-help!!!! (1 Viewer)

[stacey**]

i cannot find info on biopol anywhere i think i have spent about 10 hours on the net fruitlessly searching... i need stuff on its properites, the orgnaism or enzyme that is used to produce it, uses or potential uses and how its manufactured (diagrams too) If anyone could help, even pointing me in the right direction of a few sites it would be greatly appreciated!!!
I dont expect the answers jus somewhere to find them!! And please dont say google it because i have already haha thanks heaps guys!!
xoxox

 

[tennille]

I'm not sure whether this would help:

http://www.metabolix.com/publications/pressreleases/PRbiopol.html

I vaguely remember bio-pol.

 

[Glen88]

Go in the resources section on this site. Im sure there will be assignments/notes on biopolymers there.

 

[pran]

What: Biopol (polyhydroxyalkanoate - PHA) is technically is a co-polymers, consisting of the monomers - polyhydroxybutyric (PHB)and polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV)acids produced in nature from the fermentation of sugars by the bacteria, Azobacter and Psuedomonas. The significance of this is Biopol is that it is produced naturally by renewable agricultural resources, and most importantly, other natural bacteria can consume this polyester, so it is being promoted as fully biodegradable.
[FONT=&quot]How Made: [/FONT][FONT=&quot]The bacterium uses this polymer as a storage reservoir of carbon, which can amount to more than half of the dry weight of the organism. The polymer is produced industrially by bacteria (Alcaligenes Eutrophus), in tanks of carbon foods. It is then purified by dissolving in chlorinated hydrocarbon (trichloromethane), removing the solid waste by centrifuging and precipitating the PHB from solution and drying powder. Genetic engineering for the production of Biopol has been attempted for a viable and economical method (E-coli bacteria). <o>></o>>[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Properties:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] The Biopol backbone contains a chiral center (always R configuration). The regular stereochemistry allows the chains to pack efficiently, so Biopol is a tough, semicrystalline material. It is a stable polymer, resistant to water and hydrolytic degradation. Biopol has a good ultra-violet resistance. But has poor resistance to acids and bases. It us soluble in chloroform and other chlorinated hydrocarbons. It has a melting point of [/FONT][FONT=&quot]175⁰C and glass transition temperature of 15⁰C. It has a tensile strength of 40 MPa which is close to that of polypropylene, however biopol sinks in water while polypropylene floats. <o>></o>>[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Uses:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Biopol can be used for many packaging applications, for example packaging for products such as shampoos and cosmetics, rubbish bags. It is also used for disposable nappies, plastic plates and cups, golf tees, disposable razors, credit cards, composting bags, fishing nets, flower pots, and mulch mats. These uses for biopol are currently more expensive than the conventional alternative, however biopol has the advantage of being biodegradable and thud allowing better waste management.[/FONT]<o>></o>>
[FONT=&quot]Potential Uses:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] <o>></o>>[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Medical uses[/FONT][FONT=&quot] - [/FONT][FONT=&quot]High grade Biopol is being made for medical applications, including woven patches for use inside the body to protect tissues from scarring after surgery. After the wound is healed, enzymes in the blood dissolve away the patch. Other medical uses could come in the form of guazes, sutures (stitches), filaments, implants and drug carriers. Biopol is compatible within the body and hence rejection is not a problem within the body. <o>></o>>[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Agricultural uses[/FONT][FONT=&quot] - Slow release pesticides and fertilizers, mulches that degrade over time Pharmaceutical uses - Coatings for drugs, homopolymers can act as chiral substrates for drugs.
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[Rekkusu]

I'm not sure, but if your school uses a Core Textbook, Biopol should be in practically every Chemistry Textbook (well the 3 I've used had them).

Though just remember when choosing the Polymer & memorising all the facts for it, try and locate one which has less numbers and more words in it, but fufills the HSC Syllabus requirement for it. This way in the HSC you can make up some information (In case you have a memory blank that day).

 

[xiao1985]

bio pol is just PHA as some one mentioned... search for poly hydroxy alkanoate (or poly-beta-hydroxybutanoate/poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate) and you will get plenty of results