Glossary
For those who require more information about the terms used when describing bioplastics, we have added here the glossary of the journal "bioplastics magazine". It is updated on a regular basis.
Amylopectin
Polymeric branched starch molecule with very high molecular weight (biopolymer, monomer is Glucose).
Amyloseacetat
Linear polymeric glucosechains are called amylose. If this compound is treated with ethan acid one product is amylacetat. The hydroxyl group is connected with the organic acid fragment.
Amylose
Polymeric non-branched starch molecule with high molecular weight (biopolymer, monomer is Glucose).
Biodegradable Plastics
Biodegradable Plastics are plastics that are completely assimilated by the microorganisms present a defined environment as food for their energy. The carbon of the plastic must completely be converted into CO2 during the microbial process. For an official definition, please refer to the standards e.g. ISO or in Europe: EN 14995 Plastics- Evaluation of compostability - Test scheme and specifications. [bM 02/2006 p. 34f, bM 01/2007 p38].
Bioplastics
Bioplastics (as defined by European Bioplastics e.V.) is a term used to define two different kinds of plastics:
a. Plastics based on renewable resources (the focus is the origin of the raw material used)
b. Biodegradable and compostable plastics according to EN13432 or similar standards (the focus is the compostability of the final product; biodegradable and compostable plastics can be based on renewable (biobased) and/or non-renewable (fossil) resources).
Bioplastics may be
- based on renewable resources and biodegradable;
- based on renewable resources but not be biodegradable; and
- based on fossil resources and biodegradable.
Blend
Mixture of plastics, polymer alloy of at least two microscopically dispersed and molecularly distributed base polymers.
Carbon neutral
Carbon neutral describes a process that has a negligible impact on total atmospheric CO2 levels. For example, carbon neutrality means that any CO2 released when a plant decomposes or is burnt is offset by an equal amount of CO2 absorbed by the plant through photosynthesis when it is growing.
Cellophane
Clear film on the basis of cellulose.
Cellulose
Polymeric molecule with very high molecular weight (biopolymer, monomer is Glucose), industrial production from wood or cotton, to manufacture paper, plastics and fibres.
Compost
A soil conditioning material of decomposing organic matter which provides nutrients and enhances soil structure.
Compostable Plastics
Plastics that are biodegradable under ‘composting’ conditions:
specified humidity, temperature, microorganisms and timefame. Several national and international standards exist for clearer definitions, for example EN 14995 Plastics - Evaluation of compostability - Test scheme and specifications [bM 02/2006 p. 34f, bM 01/2007 p38].
Composting
A solid waste management technique that uses natural process to convert organic materials to CO2, water and humus through the action of microorganisms [bM 03/2007].
Copolymer
Plastic composed of different monomers.
Fermentation
Biochemical reactions controlled by microorganisms or enyzmes (e.g. the transformation of sugar into lactic acid).
Gelatine
Translucent brittle solid substance, colorless or slightly yellow, nearly tasteless and odorless, extracted from the collagen inside animals‘ connective tissue.
Glucose
Monosaccharide (or simple sugar). G. is the most important carbohydrate (sugar) in biology. G. is formed by photosynthesis or hydrolyse of many carbohydrates e. g. starch.
Humus
In agriculture, ‘humus’ is often used simply to mean mature à compost, or natural compost extracted from a forest or other spontaneous source for use to amend soil.
Hydrophilic
Property: ‘water-friendly’, soluble in water or other polar solvents (e.g. used in conjunction with a plastic which is not waterresistant and weatherproof or that absorbs water such as Polyamide (PA).
Hydrophobic
Property: ‘water-resistant’, not soluble in water (e.g. a plastic which is waterresistant and weatherproof, or that does not absorb any water such as Polethylene (PE) or Polypropylene (PP).
Microorganism
Living organisms of microscopic size, such as bacteria, funghi or yeast.
PCL
Polycaprolactone, a synthetic (fossil based), biodegradable bioplastic, e.g. used as a blend component.
PHA
Polyhydroxyalkanoates are linear polyesters produced in nature by bacterial fermentation of sugar or lipids. The most common type of PHA is PHB.
PHB
Polyhydroxyl buteric acid (better poly-3-hydroxybutyrate), is a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a polymer belonging to the polyesters class. PHB is produced by micro-organisms apparently in response to conditions of physiological stress. The polymer is primarily a product of carbon assimilation (from glucose or starch) and is employed by micro-organisms as a form of energy storage molecule to be metabolized when other common energy sources are not available. PHB has properties similar to those of PP, however it is stiffer and more brittle.
PLA
Polylactide or Polylactic Acid (PLA) is a biodegradable, thermoplastic, aliphatic polyester from lactic acid. Lactic acid is made from dextrose by fermentation. Bacterial fermentation is used to produce lactic acid from corn starch, cane sugar or other sources. However, lactic acid cannot be directly polymerized to a useful product, because each polymerization reaction generates one molecule of water, the presence of which degrades the forming polymer chain to the point that only very low molecular weights are observed. Instead, lactic acid is oligomerized and then catalytically dimerized to make the cyclic lactide monomer. Although dimerization also generates water, it can be separated prior to polymerization. PLA of high molecular weight is produced from the lactide monomer by ring-opening polymerization using a catalyst. This mechanism does not generate additional water, and hence, a wide range of molecular weights are accessible (bM 01/2009).
Saccharins or carbohydrates
Saccharins or carbohydrates are name for the sugar-family. Saccharins are monomer or polymer sugar units. For example, there are known mono-, di- and polysaccharose. glucose is a monosaccarin. They are important for the diet and
produced biology in plants.
Sorbitol
Sugar alcohol, obtained by reduction of glucose changing the aldehyde group to an additional hydroxyl group. S. is used as a plasticiser for bioplastics based on starch.
Starch
Natural polymer (carbohydrate) consisting of amylose and amylopectin, gained from maize, potatoes, wheat, tapioca etc. When glucose is connected to polymerchains in definite way the result (product) is called starch. Each molecule is based on 300 -12000-glucose units. Depending on the connection, there are two types amylose and amylopectin known.
Starch (-derivate)
Starch (-derivates) are based on the chemical structure of starch. The chemical structure can be changed by introducing new functional groups without changing the starch polymer. The product has different chemical qualities. Mostly the hydrophilic character is not the same.
Starch-ester
One characteristic of every starch-chain is a free hydroxyl group. When every hydroxyl group is connect with ethan acid one product is starch-ester with different chemical properties.
Starch propionate and starch butyrate
Starch propionate and starch butyrate can be synthesised by treating the starch with propane or butanic acid. The product structure is still based on starch. Every based glucose fragment is connected with a propionate or butyrate ester group. The product is more hydrophobic than starch.
Sustainable
An attempt to provide the best outcomes for the human and natural environments both now and into the indefinite future. One of the most often cited definitions of sustainability is the one created by the Brundtland Commission, led by the former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland. The Brundtland Commission defined sustainable development as development that ‘meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’ Sustainability relates to the continuity of economic, social, institutional and environmental aspects of human society, as well as the non-human environment).
Sustainability
An attempt to provide the best outcomes for the human and natural environments both now and into the indefinite future. One of the most often cited definitions of sustainability is the one created by the Brundtland Commission, led by the former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland. The Brundtland Commission defined sustainable development as development that ‘meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’ Sustainability relates to the continuity of economic, social, institutional and environmental aspects of human society, as well as the non-human environment).
Thermoplastics
Plastics which soften or melt when heated and solidify when cooled (solid at room temperature).
Yard Waste
Grass clippings, leaves, trimmings, garden residue.