Bioplastics: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications

Bioplastics are a promising and eco-friendly alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics. These innovative materials are derived from renewable resources, such as plant starch, corn, or sugarcane, making them biodegradable and reducing the environmental impact associated with conventional plastics. This new book presents an informative overview of bioplastics and highlights new state-of-the-art sustainable bioplastic technology.

The volume discusses the different kinds of bioplastics and their diverse uses, such as in creating sustainable food packaging; in medical applications, such as in body implants like bones, scaffolds, and breast implants; as well as in many industries--electronics, architecture and construction, automobile, consumer goods, cosmetics, etc. The design and methods of production are discussed, including novel technologies. The environmental industrial aspects of bioplastics as well as the commercial aspects of bioplastics are covered, evaluating the commercial and industrial value and demand for bioplastics.

Krushna Prasad Shadangi, PhD, is serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla, Odisha, India. He has eight years of teaching experience. He has an expertise in the area of biofuels, especially thermo-catalytic and co-conversion of biomass, successive utilization of waste plastic for bio-fuel upgrading, plastics to fuels, chemical kinetics, and conversion of liquid wastes to fuels and removal of heavy metals from waste water. He has contributed 20 book chapters in edited books (Scopus-indexed) and published 24 international peer-reviewed SCI journals (Elsevier, Springer & AIP), having more than 600 citations. He has edited the book Liquid Biofuels: Fundamentals, Characterization and Application, published by Wiley (2021). He has also edited a special one issue on ＂Biorefinery Solutions for Bio-Methanol Production and Processing＂ in the Journal of Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery. Some of his research contributions were also presented at various national and international conferences, both in India and abroad. Dr. Shadangi earned his PhD in Chemical Engineering at IIT Guwahati, Guwahati, India.

Prakash Kumar Sarangi, PhD, is a Scientist with specialization in microbiology at the Central Agricultural University in Imphal, India. His research is focused on bioprocess engineering, renewable energy, biochemicals, biomaterials, and sustainable development. His expertise is in bioconversion of biomass into biofuels, biochemicals and nutraceuticals, as well as environmental waste remediation. He has taken leading roles as the principal investigator in different R&D projects on biomass conversion, biofuel from renewable resources, and microbial biodegradation into value-added products. He has more than 12 years of teaching and research experience in biochemical engineering, microbial biotechnology, downstream processing, food microbiology, and molecular biology. He is serving as an editorial board member for many international journals, including PLOS One, 3 Biotech, Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, etc. He is serving as guest editor for the Journal of Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, Chemical Engineering and Technology, and Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining. He has published more than 60 research articles in peer-reviewed journals and authored in more than 25 book chapters. He has presented at many national and international conferences. He is associated with many scientific societies: fellow member, Society for Applied Biotechnology, and life member of the Biotech Research Society of India; Society for Biotechnologists of India; Association of Microbiologists of India; Indian Science Congress Association; Forum of Scientists, Engineers & Technologists; and International Association of Academicians and Researchers. He is the editor of three books: Recent Advancements in Biofuels and Bioenergy Utilization, Fuel Processing and Energy Utilization, and Advanced Biotechnology for Sustainable Energy and Products.