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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Sustainable Materials with Enhanced Mechanical Properties Based on Industrial Polyhydroxyalkanoates Reinforced with Organomodified Sepiolite and Montmorillonite
ClearPolyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Biopolyesters - Emerging and Major Products of Industrial Biotechnology
This review examined polyhydroxyalkanoate biopolyesters as industrially produced biodegradable plastics, covering their microbial biosynthesis, material properties, and commercial applications as sustainable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics.
PHA-Based Bioplastic: a Potential Alternative to Address Microplastic Pollution
This review examines polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-based bioplastics as biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-derived plastics, highlighting their potential to reduce microplastic pollution while discussing challenges in scaling production and improving material properties.
Enhancing PolyelectrolyteStrength of Biopolymersfor Fully Recyclable and Biodegradable Plastics
Researchers developed a fully recyclable and biodegradable plastic material created through solid polyelectrolyte complexation of naturally occurring biopolymers, enhancing their polyelectrolyte strength to achieve mechanical properties competitive with conventional single-use packaging plastics. The study demonstrated that this approach addresses both the microplastic pollution problem and fossil fuel dependence while enabling end-of-life recyclability.
Microbial PolyHydroxyAlkanoate (PHA) Biopolymers—Intrinsically Natural
This review makes the case for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), naturally produced bioplastics made by bacteria, as a solution to fossil plastic pollution. Unlike conventional plastics that break down into persistent microplastics, PHAs are fully biodegradable in soil, water, and marine environments. Widespread adoption of PHAs could help reduce the growing burden of microplastic contamination that threatens ecosystems and human health.
Biodegradable Mineral Plastics
Researchers developed a new class of biodegradable mineral plastics that are bio-based and compostable, designed as an environmentally friendly alternative to persistent petroleum-based plastics. While relevant to reducing future plastic pollution, the paper is focused on materials science and does not address microplastic contamination or its health and environmental impacts.
Nano/Micro Hybrid Bamboo Fibrous Preforms for Robust Biodegradable Fiber Reinforced Plastics
Researchers created strong, eco-friendly composite materials by combining nano- and micro-scale fibers from bamboo, producing a biodegradable plastic alternative with improved mechanical properties. This work contributes to developing sustainable materials that could replace conventional petroleum-based plastics and reduce microplastic generation.
Biodegradable Polyhydroxyalkanoates with a Different Set of Valerate Monomers: Chemical Structure and Physicochemical Properties
This materials science study synthesised novel biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymers containing unusual valerate monomers to explore whether their thermal and crystallisation properties could be tuned to outperform conventional bioplastics. The new terpolymers showed improved thermal stability and lower crystallinity compared to standard PHA copolymers. Research into genuinely biodegradable plastics is directly relevant to microplastics because materials that fully break down in the environment would not accumulate as persistent micro- and nanoparticles.
Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Bio-polyesters – Circular Materials for Sustainable Development and Growth
This review examines polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymers as circular carbon materials produced from renewable feedstocks and biodegradable across diverse environments, arguing that PHAs offer a more genuine solution to microplastic pollution than conventional bioplastics that require industrial composting.
The Hydrolytic Behavior of Poly(Lactic Acid)/Polystyrene‐ Grafted‐Hectorite Nanocomposite Films and Its Regulatory Mechanism on Microplastics
Researchers tested how polylactic acid (PLA) films and PLA/hectorite nanocomposite films degrade in aqueous solutions of different pH levels. The nanocomposite films degraded more slowly and released fewer microplastic fragments than pure PLA, suggesting that clay mineral incorporation could reduce secondary microplastic generation from biodegradable plastics.
Switching from petro-plastics to microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA): the biotechnological escape route of choice out of the plastic predicament?
This review makes the case for replacing petroleum-based plastics with microbially produced biodegradable alternatives (PHAs), particularly for packaging and medical applications. If produced efficiently enough, PHAs could reduce persistent plastic waste and the resulting microplastic pollution.
Thermal, Morphological and Mechanical Properties of Multifunctional Composites Based on Biodegradable Polymers/Bentonite Clay: A Review
This review examines how adding bentonite clay nanofillers to biodegradable polymers can improve their mechanical strength, heat resistance, and barrier properties. Researchers found that bentonite-enhanced composites show promise as replacements for conventional plastics in packaging and other applications. The study highlights that these materials could help reduce plastic pollution while overcoming the performance limitations that have held back biodegradable alternatives.
Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymer from crop residue using bacteria as an alternative to plastics: a review
This review examines how PHA, a biodegradable plastic made from crop waste using bacteria, could serve as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. While PHA breaks down naturally unlike traditional plastics that fragment into microplastics, challenges remain in making it heat-stable and cost-competitive enough for widespread industrial use.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates biosynthesis, resulting polymer structures, and plasticization
This review examines polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a class of biodegradable biopolymers synthesized by microorganisms, discussing strategies including plasticizers and monomer inclusion to overcome the brittleness and processing challenges of the most common PHA, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate).
Characterization of PHB/Clay Biocomposites Exposed to Degradation in an Aquatic Environment
This study examined how bioplastic composites made from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and clay degrade in water. Adding clay altered the degradation rate, and the type of clay (natural vs. organically modified) had different effects — important for designing biodegradable plastics that break down predictably in aquatic environments.
Enset starch-based biocomposite film reinforced with Ethiopian bentonite clay: Improved mechanical and barrier properties
Researchers developed an eco-friendly food packaging film made from enset starch reinforced with Ethiopian bentonite clay as an alternative to conventional plastics. Adding 5% bentonite clay increased the film's strength by 132% and reduced water permeability by 42%, making it a more practical option for food packaging. The study demonstrates a promising biodegradable material that could help reduce microplastic pollution from traditional plastic packaging.
Bioplastics against Microplastics: Screening of Environmental Bacteria for Bioplastics Production
Researchers screened environmental bacteria for their ability to produce polyhydroxyalkanoate bioplastics, which are biodegradable alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Developing efficient bioplastic-producing strains is one strategy to reduce the long-term accumulation of persistent microplastics in the environment.
Mechanical properties of fibre/ filler based poly(Lactic Acid) (Pla) composites : A brief review
This review examines the mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA)-based composites reinforced with natural fibers and fillers, presenting PLA as a biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics in applications ranging from agriculture to biomedical devices. Improving the strength and durability of bio-based plastics is essential for replacing petroleum-based materials that generate persistent microplastic pollution.
High Barrier Nanocomposite Film with Accelerated Biodegradation by Clay Swelling Induced Fragmentation
This study developed a polylactic acid (PLA) composite film reinforced with clay that improves the poor gas barrier properties of biodegradable plastics while also accelerating their breakdown through a clay-induced fragmentation mechanism. Creating biodegradable packaging that performs as well as conventional plastic while genuinely degrading in the environment is a key challenge for reducing plastic pollution.
Strengthening effect of pea dietary fiber on mechanical properties and degradability of polylactic acid
Researchers incorporated pea dietary fiber into polylactic acid (PLA) plastic to improve its mechanical strength and degradability. Strengthening biodegradable plastics without adding conventional plastic additives is important for developing truly compostable alternatives that don't generate persistent microplastic fragments.
Performance Spectrum of Home-Compostable Biopolymer Fibers Compared to a Petrochemical Alternative
Researchers compared home-compostable biopolymer fibers to conventional petrochemical alternatives, evaluating their mechanical performance and degradability to assess whether biobased materials can serve as viable substitutes that reduce microplastic pollution.
(Bio)degradable Biochar Composites of PLA/P(3HB-co-4HB) Commercial Blend for Sustainable Future—Study on Degradation and Electrostatic Properties
Researchers studied biodegradable polymer composites made from PLA and P(3HB-co-4HB) blended with biochar as a natural filler. The study found that adding biochar improved electrostatic properties and influenced degradation behavior, suggesting these composites could serve as more sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics while reducing microplastic generation.
Enhancing Polyelectrolyte Strength of Biopolymers for Fully Recyclable and Biodegradable Plastics
This study developed a biodegradable and fully recyclable plastic material by forming solid polyelectrolyte complexes from naturally occurring charged polymers, achieving stiffness comparable to conventional plastics while enabling composting or dissolution-based recycling — with no microplastic residue.
Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of Inherently Brittle, Biobased and Biodegradable Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Polymer by Cotton Fibre Reinforcement and Interfacial Grafting
This study developed biobased and biodegradable packaging films by modifying PLA and PBSA blends, achieving improved flexibility and toughness compared to brittle pure PLA, with the goal of replacing fossil-fuel-based packaging materials with compostable alternatives.
Influence of microbial biomass content on biodegradation and mechanical properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) composites
This paper is not about microplastics — it studies how adding microbial biomass (algae and cyanobacteria) to a biodegradable polyester (PHB) accelerates its degradation rate in soil.