Use available evidence to gather and present data from secondary sources and analyse progress in the development and use of a named biopolymer.

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BP2: 2: a

Biopolymers Research Task

Biopolymers

“Use available evidence to gather and present data from secondary sources and analyse progress in the development and use of a named biopolymer. This analysis should name the specific enzyme(s) used or organism used to synthesise the material and an evaluation of the use or potential use of the polymer produced related to its properties.”

1. Introduction

a) Polymers

A polymer is a generic term used to describe a substantially long molecule. This long molecule consists of  and  strung together through chemical bonds. The process of converting these units to a polymer is called . These units are called , which are typically small molecules of low molecular weight.1

Over 99% of all plastics are made from non-renewable natural resources, which are finite, for example, oil, coal or natural gas.3 Waste management is a major problem for plastics because they produce large amounts of waste, which can be bad for the environment.

b) Biopolymers

A biopolymer is a naturally occurring polymer generated using natural resources like plants and micro-organisms. Biopolymers are polymers that are generated from renewable natural sources, are often biodegradable, and not toxic to produce.4

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,  and , , and  are all examples of biopolymers, in which the monomer units. The polymer primary structure is the chemical composition and the sequence in which these units are arranged in. Many biopolymers spontaneously “” into characteristic shapes, which determine their biological functions.2

Biodegradability and other plastic properties strongly depend on the polymer structure. By changing the structure, these properties can be altered. The amount of time that a biopolymer degrades varies from only a few week to a number of months, which is mainly due to its structure.4

2. An increased need ...

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