9-Biodegradeable polymers

Question 1

What is a negative of synthetic polymers?

Answer 1

• They can take hundreds of years to break down (Degrade)
• This is a major cause of pollution and can kill marine and bird life

Question 2

What is a Bio-polymer?

Answer 2

Polymers made from natural renewable resources

Question 3

what are the two categories of Biopolymers?

Answer 3

• Natural
• Synthetic

Question 4

Natural Bio-polymers

Answer 4

• Polymers made from natural materials such as starch

Question 5

Synthetic bio-polymers

Answer 5

• polymers made from renewable resources but chemically synthesised to degrade faster

Question 6

what is a biodegradable polymer?

Answer 6

Made from finite resources but contains additives which cause it to degrade faster

Question 7

2 positives of bio-polymers/biodegradable polymers

Answer 7

• Reduces the dependence on fossil fuels and fractional distillation which massively reduces pollution levels and energy usage
• Can be processed in the same way as other regular polymers therefore machinery would not need to be changed

Question 8

1 negative of bio-polymers

Answer 8

• Biopolymers will need lots of land space and water to grow the crops for the polymers

Question 9

1 negative of biodegradable polymers

Answer 9

• Can take high temperatures to decompose which can use a lot of energy
• This combustion can emit toxic gases

Question 10

2 Biopolymers (synthetic)

Answer 10

• Polylactic acid
• Lactide

Question 11

2 bio-polymers (natural)

Answer 11

• Corn starch polymer
• Potatopak

Question 12

Potatopak

Answer 12

• Made from potato starch
• For single use food items such as bowls, cutlery, trays, or used as packaging peanuts

Question 13

Lactide

Answer 13

• Fully compostable, PLA and cellulose based
• Food film, bin bags

Question 13

Corn starch polymer

Answer 13

• Made from high starch vegetables such as corn or potatoes
• Used in packaging, disposable cutlery, straws

Question 14

Polylactic acid (PLA)

Answer 14

• Made from corn kernels or cane sugar, fermented to create lactic acid, and then synthesized to make polylactic acid
• used in nappies, 3D printing, medical stitches, plant pots, and more

Question 15

What are the 3 environmental factors that can affect degradation?

Answer 15

• Light (Photodegradation)
• Oxygen (Oxy-degradation)
• Water (Hydrodegradation)

Question 16

How does degradation occur and what is it dependant on?

Answer 16

Micro organisms convert material in the polymer into other substances such as water or carbon dioxide
- The ability to degrade is dependant on the structure of the polymer as opposed the the origin of the raw material

Question 17

How short can a Bio-polymer be designed to degrade?

Answer 17

• a few months

Question 18

Photodegradation (Light)

Answer 18

• Polymer bonds are weakened by exposure to UV light

Question 19

Oxy-degradation (Oxygen)

Answer 19

Oxygen converts the polymer into a fine powder which is then degraded by microorganisms

Question 20

Hydro-degradation (water)

Answer 20

• Polymer breaks down due to water exposure and is then degraded by microorganisms