Corn Starch Plastic: An Overview

Purpose: The production and use of traditional petroleum-based plastics have caused significant environmental problems, such as non-biodegradable waste and pollution. This environmental concern can be overcome using biotechnological tools and techniques to develop bio-plastic as a sustainable alternative to daily use plastic and ensuring a smooth transition from fossil-based to bio- based plastics. Various industrial biotechnology methods such as microbial fermentation, enzymatic catalysis are used as primary methods for bio-plastic production. The microbes are genetically modified, harvested and engineered for this purpose of fermentation for high quality and quantity production.This article provides an in-depth overview of bio-plastic such as corn- starch plastic as an alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics and to mitigate environmental concerns arising from them. Corn starch plastic, also known as polylactic acid (PLA), is a biodegradable polymer made from corn starch that is gaining popularity due to its properties and biodegradability. It includes its properties, production, applications, challenges, and future directions.
Research method: It involves a number of biotechnological processes. Starting with extraction of corn starch from corn kernels and separation of starch from mixture. It is followed by gelatinization of starch and plasticization with plasticizers like glycerol to enhance flexibility. Further, the starch is processed using injection molding, and ultimately cooling and solidification are carried out.
Findings: Findings reveal that a number of by-products are retrieved during the extraction process of corn starch plastic that can be further mixed with corn starch plastic to enhance its properties and produce plastics of different kinds and applications. For example, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) is a complex polymer that, when added to corn starch plastic, enhances its strength and flexibility. Cellulose acetate (CA) is another renewable polymer that produces a transparent bio-plastic that is also chemically resistant and durable. Many such polymers have been identified and described further.
Research limitations: Process is energy consuming and water intensive inputs are required. Microorganisms can cause unwanted contamination, hindering the process.
Originality/ value: Production of bio-plastics that is biodegradable.