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Biopolymers (1 Viewer)

shining_star

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Jul 27, 2003
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hey guys does anyone hav sum good stuff on biopolymers??? i hav just started revising and realised that my notes don't actully cover the dot point. i hav trials in couple of weeks and am freakin out!!!!!!!!!!!:eek:
 

inasero

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alicagenes eutrophus is responsible for the production of PLA (Polylactic acid)...u can find out more info in Rolad Smith COnquering Chem
 

inasero

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yeah sorry bout that...johns rite,,,,
the polymer produced is known as PHB (or poly- hydroxy[beta]- butanoate)
 

jims

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the process for making PLA:
1. grow some corn
2. harvest your corn
3. process your corn to extract all the sugars (im not sure which sugars)
4. ferment the sugar with a microorganism like lactobacillus or lactococcus to magically turn the sugar into lactic acid (in the form of lactides, which are lactic acid rings or something)
5. chemically polymerise the lactides to form polylactic acid (PLA)
and wolah! 5 easy steps to making PLA

i think u have to talk about advantages n disadvantages to:
good
biodegradable so it may reduce land fills
made from biomass, a renewable resource
qualities comparable to PET (as a plastic type thing eg. wrapping) and nylon (as a fibre)
uses less fossil fuels in production than PET or Nylon
retains twists n folds well
bad
release CO2 n methane on decomposition
oxygen and liquid barrier properties not as good as PET
still need fossil fuels for farming n processing or corn
more expensive than normal plastics
needs land to grow crops so may take away land from agriculture

and some uses while im at it:
candy and miscellaneous wrappers because of biogradability n good clarity n good twist n fold retention
temporary medical sutures n drug delivery systems becoz of biodegradability
clothes and carpet fibres because of good fibre quality (mayb cheaper 2)
 

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