Selected Biopolymers' Processing and Their Applications: A Review

Abstract

Petroleum-based polymers are used in a multitude of products in the commercial world, but their high degree of contamination and non-biodegradability make them unattractive. The development and use of polymers derived from nature offer a solution to achieve an environmentally friendly and green alternative and reduce waste derived from plastics. This review focuses on showing an overview of the most widespread production methods for the main biopolymers. The parameters affecting the development of the technique, the most suitable biopolymers, and the main applications are included. The most studied biopolymers are those derived from polysaccharides and proteins. These biopolymers are subjected to production methods that improve their properties and modify their chemical structure. Process factors such as temperature, humidity, solvents used, or processing time must be considered. Among the most studied production techniques are solvent casting, coating, electrospinning, 3D printing, compression molding, and graft copolymerization. After undergoing these production techniques, biopolymers are applied in many fields such as biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, food packaging, scaffold engineering, and others.

Keywords: 3D printing; biopolymer; casting; coating; compression molding; electrospinning; graft copolymerization.

Figure 1

Solvent casting method scheme.

Figure 2

Diagram of the different coating methods.

Figure 3

Diagram of the electrospinning method.

Figure 4

Schematic diagram of the 3D printing method.

Figure 5

Schematic diagram of the injection molding method.

Figure 6

Scheme of the compression molding process.

Figure 7

Scheme of the extrusion process.

Figure 8

Graft copolymerization process.