Since 2004, mitigating the environmental impact caused by excessive plastic use has been a key focus at the Center for the Development of Biotic Products of the National Polytechnic Institute (ceprobi-ipn). Researchers here employ natural resources to develop and optimize biodegradable materials such as biomass, as well as edible films and coatings, packaging materials, and pharmaceutical encapsulants.
Biomass consists of macromolecules that provide flexibility and rigidity to materials, as well as permeability and optical characteristics that vary based on the chemical structure of the resource used: molecular weight, geometry, and spatial distribution of functional groups. Researchers are particularly interested in developing studies focused on obtaining and extensively characterizing degradable films derived from environmentally friendly sources, also known as “biofilms.”
Plants are composed of tiny corpuscles, invisible to the naked eye but immense and complex in their nature, as they consist of hundreds or thousands of atoms. In 1920, German chemist Hermann Staudinger named these structures “macromolecules.” According to him, a macromolecule is a molecule made up of smaller molecules linked together through a process called polymerization. In nature, these large particles are abundant and essential to living organisms, including plants and animals. We are surrounded by them: they form our bodies, those of our pets, and the structure of plants and trees. Some of the most representative macromolecules are proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids. Proteins, typically derived from living entities, are also known as biomolecules and are made up of amino acids linked by peptide bonds, while polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates composed of monosaccharides. These macromolecules are essential for the survival and functioning of living organisms.
It is common to use the term “macromolecule” when referring to polymers because they are materials formed by long chains of particles that can be identical or different. However, it is important to understand the distinction: while a polymer consists of repetitive units that may be uniform or varied, a macromolecule is simply a very large structure.
A helpful analogy is to imagine making beaded bracelets. Each bead represents an atom. We can insert identical beads, group them in patterns, or vary their arrangement. By threading different strands with unique patterns and intertwining them, we create diverse designs.
Similarly, polymers consist of individual beads, or monomers, that join together to form the polymer. They can be classified into two main types: homopolymers, which are made from a single type of monomer (one type of bead), and copolymers, which are composed of multiple monomer types (different beads).
A Solution Bioplastic is a plastic made from plants or other biological materials. Biomaterials derived from renewable resources 2025 22 Everyday life is filled with polymers. They are in our devices, toys, shoes, utensils, and even water bottles. Today, the most widely used polymeric materials are synthetic and petrochemical-based. The first polymers originated from natural transformations; for example, celluloid was first synthesized by Chris tian Schönbein in 1846. Fourteen years later, the process was refined to create a substitute for ivory used in manufacturing various objects. Since then, the polymer industry has continued to grow. However, in the 1980s, interest in developing alternatives to traditional plastics surged, with a focus on ecological impact, an initiative to raise awareness of the global plastic waste crisis. This led to the exploration of macromolecules and the emergence of the term “bioplastic.
Simply put, a bioplastic is a plastic derived from plants or biological materials. This material is revolutionizing the industry by offering the potential to reduce the ecological impact of plastic waste while fostering a production and consumption model centered on waste reduction, environmental regeneration, and sustainable product development.
One of the main industries utilizing bioplastics is food packaging, as traditional packaging contributes significantly to pollution, often ending up in landfills or as environmental waste. Biopolymers present a viable alternative as renewable packaging materials. Biodegradable films, made from natural and renewable resources, decompose more easily through metabolic reactions of living organisms under appropriate conditions of humidity, temperature, and oxygen exposure. This process naturally breaks them down into water, carbon dioxide, and compost, which can be reintegrated into the environment.
At ceprobi, bioplastic films have been developed using carbohydrates such as chitosan, cellulose, and starch es from sources like sorghum, corn, plantains, and jicama. Proteins such as zein (bovine gelatin), canola protein isolate, and jatropha have also been used.
To enhance the properties of bioplastic films according to functional needs, researchers have recently reinforced polymeric matrices by adding micro- and nanoparticles.
Most macromolecules used in these studies come from agro-industrial waste, making them biodegradable and widely available. Their hydrophilic nature allows them to form chains or networks, creating matrices for films.
Methods for obtaining these materials include casting, a process where a film-forming solution, mostly water with up to six percent solids, is heated to achieve gelatinization or dispersion of components. The solution is then poured onto plates, dried, and peeled off.
Other methods include thermal compression and extrusion, which produce thicker, more resistant sheets. Studies have demonstrated that these materials degrade in less than four months.
Various research efforts have analyzed the behavior and compatibility of different raw materials to determine their feasibility as biomaterials capable of competing with petroleum-based polymers, which are harmful to health and the environment.
These studies originate from undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral theses, as well as collaborations with national and international institutions.
Current research focuses on developing biodegradable biofilms for food packaging and testing their full degradation and shelf-life extension. It is crucial for everyone to demand and adopt biodegradable materials in daily life to protect our planet, our home.
For more information visit, Conversus: The power of plants
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