Overview of Biobased Materials or Biologically Produced Materials

Definition of Bio-based Materials: Materials made from renewable biomass and/or biologically produced materials

Bio-based Materials (BBMs) are a new class of materials made from renewable biomass or (and) biologically produced raw materials through biological, chemical and physical means, such as bioplastics and biofunctional polymers.

They are different from traditional chemical products made from non-renewable petrochemical resources such as coal and petroleum, which have the characteristics of renewable raw materials, reduced carbon emissions and energy saving.

In the future, bio-based materials are expected to gradually replace traditional petroleum-based materials in some applications, becoming a new industry leading technological innovation and economic development, and serving as the main way of green low-carbon development and a bright spot for low-carbon economic growth.

A bio-based material is a material intentionally made from substances derived from living (or once-living) organisms. These materials are sometimes referred to as biomaterials, but this word also has another meaning.

Strictly the definition could include many common materials such as wood and leather, but it typically refers to modern materials that have undergone more extensive processing. Unprocessed materials may be called biotic material. Bio-based materials or biomaterials fall under the broader category of bioproducts or bio-based products which includes materials, chemicals and energy derived from renewable biological resources.

Bio-based materials are often biodegradable, but this is not always the case.

Examples include:

cellulose fibers — fibers made from reconstituted cellulose.

casein — a phosphoprotein extracted from milk during the process of creating low fat milk, it is processed in various ways to make: plastic, dietary supplements for body builders, glue, cotton candy, protective coatings, paints, and occurs naturally in cheese, giving it a creamy texture.

polylactic acid — a polymer produced by industrial fermentation

bioplastics — include a soy oil based plastic now being used to make body panels for John Deere tractors

engineered wood — products such as oriented strand board and particle board

zein — a natural biopolymer which is the most abundant corn protein

cornstarch — the starch of the maize grain, used to make packing pellets

grease — lubricants made from vegetable oils, including soybean oil, that can replace petroleum based lubricants

Currently, common biobased materials are renewable biomass such as cereals, legumes, straw, bamboo and wood flour, etc., which are biologically transformed to obtain biopolymers or monomers, and then further polymerised to form environmentally friendly chemical products and green energy and other polymers, such as biogas, fuel ethanol, biodiesel and bioplastics.

In addition, bio-based materials can also be produced and obtained from designed or modified biological systems such as bioprocessing and biosynthesis methods.