biodegradable polymers

Question 1

what are natural biopolymers

Answer 1

made from natural materials such as cellulose, starch and polysaccharides

Question 2

what are synthetic polymers

Answer 2

made from renewable chemically engineered sources that break down more quickly

Question 3

what are implications of using biodegradable polymers (5)

Answer 3

• can produce methane gas when they decompose in landfill contributing to global warming
• can use high temperatures to decompose and may leave behind toxic residues
• biopolymer and biodegradable have different meanings to a customer which may be confusing and potentially making it harder to make a positive environmental choice when shopping
• cannot be recycled
• can be processed in the same way as thermoplastics ie injection moulding

Question 4

what is a bio degradable polymer

Answer 4

made from finite resources like crude oil and contains additives that cause it to degrade quicker than traditional polymers

Question 5

what are the implications of biopolymers (4)

Answer 5

• natural biopolymers need land to grow on including GM crops
• cannot be recycled and their use may encourage people to not recycle and promote throwaway culture
• can be processed in the same way as thermoplastics ie injection moulding
• biopolymer and biodegradable have different meanings to a customer which may be confusing and potentially making it harder to make a positive environmental choice when shopping

Question 6

what type of biopolymer is corn starch polymer

Answer 6

natural

Question 7

what is corn starch polymer made from

Answer 7

high starch vegetables such as potatoes or corn

Question 8

corn starch polymer uses

Answer 8

packaging products ,
straws , vending cups , disposable cutlery, take away food containers, bags

Question 9

how does corn starch polymers degrade

Answer 9

microorganisms

Question 10

what type of biopolymer polymer is potatopak

Answer 10

natural

Question 11

what is potatopak made from

Answer 11

potato starch

Question 12

potatopak uses

Answer 12

single use food items like bowls, cutlery, food trays, packaging peanuts , bin bag

Question 13

how does potatopak degrade

Answer 13

microorganisms

Question 14

what type of biopolymer is Biopol

what is biopol the trade name for

Answer 14

natural

PHB

Question 15

what is biopol made of

Answer 15

bacteria grown in cultures

Question 16

biopol uses

Answer 16

packaging products such as film, carrier bags, pill coverings and surgical stitches

Question 17

how does biopol degrade

Answer 17

additive

Question 18

what type of biopolymer is polylactic acid (PLA)

Answer 18

synthetic

Question 19

What is PLA made of

Answer 19

corn kernels or came sugar fermented to produce lactic acid then synthesised into PLA

Question 20

PLA uses

Answer 20

packaging, single use bottles, 3D printing, plant pots

Question 21

what type of biopolymer is PHA

Answer 21

natural

Question 22

what is PHA made from

Answer 22

bacteria grown in cultures

Question 23

PHA uses

Answer 23

packaging, medical uses such as slow release medication patches, film, screws and bone plates

Question 24

How does PHA degrade

Answer 24

fully compostable

Question 25

what type of biopolymer is lactide

Answer 25

synthetic

Question 26

lactide uses

Answer 26

slow release medication, bone repair fixings, detergent washing sachets

Question 27

how does lactide degrade

Answer 27

fully compostable, water soluble

Question 28

what is lactide made from

Answer 28

PLA and cellulose based

Question 29

what type of biopolymer is Glycolide

Answer 29

synthetic

Question 30

glycolide uses

Answer 30

food film, bags, packaging wrap, bin bags, flower wrap

Question 31

what is glycolide made from

Answer 31

PLA and cellulose

Question 32

glycolide degradtion

Answer 32

fully compostable

Question 33

degradation in biopolymers occur in the presence of

Answer 33

• light (photodegradable)
• oxygen ( oxydegradble)
• water (hydrodegradble)

Question 34

what do microorganisms do when degrading biopolymers

Answer 34

convert the materials into water, carbon dioxide, biomass and methane