In today's world, as far as it is concerned, people can see a variety of plastic products everywhere. Plastics bring a lot of convenience to our lives, but it also places a heavy burden on the environment. However, the emergence of bioplastics has made it possible to alleviate environmental pollution problems. Nowadays, there are brackets for TVs, computer frames, plastic bottles, garbage bags, etc. Bioplastics are almost everywhere.
Bioplastics refers to plastics that are based on natural substances such as starch and produced under the influence of microorganisms. It has the advantages of being renewable and environmentally friendly. Therefore, it has become a 'new favorite' for competing countries to study. It is understood that the EU-funded The 'P4SB' project focuses on the biodegradation of bacteria. At present, 'P4SB' has achieved a phased success on the experimental scale. In addition, the bio-based degradation film special material independently developed by the Shanghai Institute of Petrochemical Technology recently At the China International Plastics and Rubber Industry Exhibition, once it was unveiled, it attracted the attention of many exhibitors.
According to relevant statistics, the annual growth rate of the global bio-plastics market can reach 8%-10%. By 2025, thanks to the rapid development of the automotive and electronics industries, Asia will occupy a larger proportion of the global bio-plastics market. There is a 32% market share, followed by 31% in Europe and 28% in the United States.
Nowadays, besides being widely used in daily life, bioplastics have also played a major role in the medical field. For example, in fracture surgery, it can act as a support between bones. As bones heal, it gradually Self-decompose. Linear bioplastics can be used to replace wounds in place of traditional medical surgical threads. This plastic surgical thread can be gradually absorbed by the body, thereby eliminating the pain of stitch removal. In addition, medicinal capsules made of bioplastics, It slowly dissolves in people's bodies and controls the rate at which drugs enter the bloodstream.
Although the current research and development of bio-plastics are the focus of people's attention, many countries have invested a lot of money and manpower in the research process. However, bio-plastics have not yet reached the stage of universal application in society so far. There are still many problems in technology, etc.
1. The cost is high. The current price of bioplastics is two to three times higher than that of ordinary plastics. The high cost of manufacturing has hindered the popularization of this type of material to some extent.
2. The technology is not yet mature. The performance of biodegradable plastic products made of bioplastics can not fully meet various consumer demands. Taking catering utensils made of biodegradable plastics as an example, it is in terms of heat resistance, water resistance and mechanical strength. There is a big difference between the traditional plastic products and the traditional plastic products. At the same time, although there are many kinds of biodegradable plastics in the market today, the comprehensive performance of each material needs to be improved.
3. The regulatory system has not been perfected. Since bioplastics are a new industry, many materials and products have not been uniformly standardized in the industry since they were developed. As a result, they have caused many inconveniences and disputes to trade. For a long time, it will not be conducive to bioplastics. Industry development.
4. Intensifying global warming. Although bioplastics can undergo different degrees of biodegradation, they produce carbon dioxide during the degradation process, which in turn exacerbates global warming.
5. The degradation rate is different. The degradation rate of different bio-plastics is not the same. It can be degraded in a few days, some for a few years, and some even for decades. And it takes decades. Degradable plastics, to a certain extent, will inevitably burden the environment.
6. The safety of genetically modified organisms. The raw materials used in bioplastics are crops. In order to promote the fermentation of crops, manufacturers often use genetically modified organisms. However, the safety of genetically modified organisms has remained controversial in the industry.
Recycling and environmental protection is not only a hot spot in the society, but also a major development trend in all walks of life. Bioplastics are no exception. Bioplastics have the advantage of being environmentally friendly and recyclable, making its future development promising. However, its application in bioplastics In the process, people still need to make up for all kinds of deficiencies in the plastics. At the same time, innovative research and development of degradative technologies will promote the future application of bioplastics.