India’s First Demonstration Facility For Biopolymers In Pune:
The Union Minister inaugurated India’s first Demonstration Facility for Biopolymers in Pune.
- Biopolymers are materials that have been manufactured from biological sources such as fats, vegetable oils, sugars, resins, and proteins.
- The biopolymers have more complex structures than synthetic polymers therefore they are more active in vivo.
- Furthermore, as biopolymers are biodegradable their decomposition is easily done by bacteria in the soil environment, as compared to synthetic polymers which cause environmental pollution due to incineration.
- They can control the life processes of living organisms and are environmentally friendly.
- They are decomposed by the processes named –oxidation (mainly reaction with oxygen), hydrolysis (decomposition by water) or by some enzymes.
- Some of them are compostable and can show some chemical properties on their surface.
- Biopolymers like polylactic acid, polyglycolate, poly 3-hydroxy butyrate etc. may show plastic properties and instead.
- These polymers can reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and also decrease carbon emissions.
- This happens because bio-degradation of these chemical compounds can release carbon dioxide that can be reabsorbed by crops grown as a substitute in their place.
