Lignocellulosic biomass feedstock: A benchmarking green resource for sustainable production of bioplastics

Abstract

Presence of plastics in the surroundings is ubiquitous, as generation of plastics is booming globally and it gets accumulated in oceans leading to deleterious impacts on marine life, public health and the surrounding environment. Owing to its non-degradable nature, plastic particles remain in surroundings for extended periods which automatically facilitate its out spreading. Therefore, there is a need to shift to bio-based plastics, as bio-based green economy hinges on sustainable employment of bioresources for generating a broad spectrum of products, biofuels, chemicals and bioplastics. Typically bioplastics are synthesized from bio-based resources considered to contribute more to sustainable production of plastic as a part of the circular economy. Bioplastics are luring attention and growing as counterfeit material for petroleum-derived plastics owing to their biodegradability. Recently an engrossed interest has been burgeoning in producing drop-in polymers and new-fangled bioplastics by utilizing lignocellulosic feedstock. This paper reviews the enormous potential of lignocellulosic feedstock as a significant inedible substrate for bioplastic synthesis. Polyhydroxyalkanoates, polyurethanes, polylactic acid and starch-bioplastic are prevailing bio-based plastic comparably derived from lignocellulosic biomass. In forthcoming years bioplastic derived years’ bioplastic derived from lignocellulose will loom as valuable material in numerous fields for an extensive range of cutting-edge applications.