Seaweed-Based Biodegradable Biopolymers, Composite, and Blends with Applications

Abstract

The rising environmental awareness is promoting researchers to develop new biodegradable material. Seaweed is a versatile organism able to produce diverse type of polymers, i.e., agar, carrageenan, alginate, and polyhydroxyalkanoates. Several studies confirmed that these biopolymers are non-toxic, biodegradable, renewable, biocompatible, and eco-friendly. Seaweeds have been used as reinforcement to improve the mechanical properties of polymer composites. Several modifications have been investigated in the seaweed biopolymer to change or improve the properties of biopolymers like functionalization, blending with different polymers, and forming composite with supporting materials. The potential of seaweed as filler in polymer composites improves the thermal, physical, and mechanical properties of the synthetic polymer matrix. The chapter focuses on various seaweed biopolymers with their potential sources, modification of biopolymer, and their application in various fields.