biopolymeer

Biopolymers are polymers derived from living organisms or from renewable biological sources, and they are often biodegradable. They include natural polymers such as proteins (for example collagen, silk fibroin, keratin), polysaccharides (such as cellulose, starch, chitin, alginate, pectin), and nucleic acids (DNA, RNA). Some polymers produced by microorganisms, like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), are synthesized as intracellular storage compounds and can be recovered as biodegradable plastics. The term is used variably, sometimes to emphasize bio-based origin, biodegradability, or both.

Biopolymers can occur naturally in organisms or be manufactured from renewable feedstocks. Natural biopolymers are extracted from plants, animals, fungi, or algae, while microbial fermentation can produce distances such as PHAs, which can function as bioplastics. Polymers derived from bio-based monomers, such as polylactic acid (PLA), are common in bioplastic applications but may differ in whether they are produced directly by organisms or synthesized from microbial sugars.

Properties of biopolymers vary widely, from rigid structural materials to viscous gels. They are utilized in packaging, food hydrocolloids, and medical applications, including wound dressings, drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering scaffolds. Their appeal lies in potential environmental benefits and compatibility with biological systems, though performance, cost, and processing remain important considerations.

Environmental and regulatory aspects emphasize biodegradability and compostability, with standards guiding industrial or home composting. Widespread adoption depends on supply consistency, material performance, and the development of infrastructure for recycling and composting. Biopolymers represent an approach to reducing reliance on fossil-based polymers while addressing end-of-life management.