Title: A Review on Plasticizers and Eco-Friendly Bioplasticizers: Biomass Sources and Market

Abstract

Plasticizers are chemical additives added into polymers to influence desirable mechanical properties such as processability and ductility. These properties are a result of the association of plasticizer and polymer molecules under the theories of plasticization. This review analyzes, justifies and explore the use of bioplasticizers over phthalate based plasticizers. Owing to health concerns, depletion of crude resources and other factors, there is a gradual drift from traditional phthalate plasticizers to bioplasticizers in the plastic industry. Bioplasticizers are derived mainly from biomass sources including agricultural products, it's by-products and waste. Regardless of the biomass source, ideal bioplasticizers are expected to be non-toxic, highly resistant to leaching, miscible, effective and relatively low in cost. Bioplasticizers such as epoxidized plant oils, cardanol, citrates and Isorbide esters are derived from further modifications of oils and triglyceride, starch and cellulose, citric acids and glycerol. By biomass sources, oils and triglycerides are obtained from oleaginous plants, starch and cellulose from cereals and citric acids from citrus. Citrate plasticizers have good miscibility, biodegradable, resistant to leaching and water and have legal use as additives. The demand for bioplasticizers is reported to increase from 887 kiltonnes in 2016 to 1900 kilotonnes in 2025 with a corresponding revenue of $1124 Million dollars 2016 to $2683.7 Million dollars by 2025.