Huang Shirui, Dong Qianhe, Che Sichen, Li Ronghua, Tang Kuok Ho Daniel
College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University (NWAFU), Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; The Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona (UA), Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; School of Natural Resources and Environment, NWAFU-UA Microcampus, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University (NWAFU), Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; School of Natural Resources and Environment, NWAFU-UA Microcampus, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
Sci Total Environ. 2025 Mar 15;969:178911. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178911. Epub 2025 Feb 28.
As awareness of plastic pollution increases, there is a growing emphasis on sustainable alternatives. Bioplastics and biodegradable plastics have surfaced as potential substitutes. Yet, their limited properties and high production costs hinder their practicality. This paper systematically reviews more than 280 articles to comprehensively outline the advantages and drawbacks of emerging bioplastics and biodegradable plastics, alongside advancements in cleaner production methods. Bioplastics, sourced from renewable materials, decrease dependency on fossil fuels and help lower carbon footprints during production and disposal. Some bioplastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates, are compostable, but their manufacturing costs usually surpass that of conventional plastics. Additionally, certain bioplastics exhibit lower mechanical strength, heat resistance, or durability. PLA and bio-polybutylene succinate (bio-PBS) are viable for single-use items and biodegradable products, with scalable production using established technologies, although bio-PBS is somewhat pricier than PLA. Biodegradable plastics lessen environmental impact by naturally degrading and can be composted in industrial settings, providing an eco-friendly disposal option. However, they require specific industrial composting conditions for complete degradation, which can lead to microplastic formation in the environment. PBS, polybutylene adipate terephthalate, and polybutylene succinate-co-adipate seem to be the most promising options, with PBS being a strong contender for replacing traditional plastics due to its biodegradable and compostable nature. It has the potential to be partially or entirely bio-based (bio-PBS). Innovative technologies, especially next-generation industrial biotechnology and microbial cell factories, offer cleaner methods for synthesizing these plastics. This review aids in identifying feasible and sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics.
随着对塑料污染的认识不断提高，人们越来越强调可持续的替代品。生物塑料和可生物降解塑料已成为潜在的替代品。然而，它们有限的性能和高昂的生产成本阻碍了其实际应用。本文系统回顾了280多篇文章，全面概述了新兴生物塑料和可生物降解塑料的优缺点，以及清洁生产方法的进展。生物塑料源自可再生材料，减少了对化石燃料的依赖，并有助于在生产和处置过程中降低碳足迹。一些生物塑料，如聚乳酸（PLA）和聚羟基脂肪酸酯，是可堆肥的，但它们的制造成本通常超过传统塑料。此外，某些生物塑料的机械强度、耐热性或耐久性较低。PLA和生物聚丁二酸丁二醇酯（bio-PBS）适用于一次性物品和可生物降解产品，可采用成熟技术进行规模化生产，不过bio-PBS比PLA略贵。可生物降解塑料通过自然降解减少了对环境的影响，并且可以在工业环境中进行堆肥，提供了一种环保的处置选择。然而，它们需要特定的工业堆肥条件才能完全降解，这可能导致环境中形成微塑料。聚丁二酸丁二醇酯（PBS）、聚己二酸/对苯二甲酸丁二醇酯和聚丁二酸丁二醇酯-共-己二酸酯似乎是最有前途的选择，其中PBS因其可生物降解和可堆肥的特性，是替代传统塑料的有力竞争者。它有可能部分或全部基于生物（生物-PBS）。创新技术，特别是下一代工业生物技术和微生物细胞工厂，为合成这些塑料提供了更清洁的方法。这篇综述有助于确定传统塑料可行且可持续的替代品。
