Bio-based material
Encyclopedia
A bio-based material is simply an engineering
material
made from substances derived from living matter. These materials are sometimes referred to as biomaterial
s, 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:
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
material
Material
Material is anything made of matter, constituted of one or more substances. Wood, cement, hydrogen, air and water are all examples of materials. Sometimes the term "material" is used more narrowly to refer to substances or components with certain physical properties that are used as inputs to...
made from substances derived from living matter. These materials are sometimes referred to as biomaterial
Biomaterial
A biomaterial is any matter, surface, or construct that interacts with biological systems. The development of biomaterials, as a science, is about fifty years old. The study of biomaterials is called biomaterials science. It has experienced steady and strong growth over its history, with many...
s, but this word also has another meaning. Strictly the definition could include many common materials such as wood
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
and leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
, but it typically refers to modern materials that have undergone more extensive processing. Unprocessed materials may be called biotic material
Biotic material
Biotic material or biological derived material is any natural material that is originated from living organisms. Most such materials contain carbon and are capable of decay....
. Bio-based materials or biomaterials fall under the broader category of bioproducts
Bioproducts
Bioproducts or Bio-based Products are materials, chemicals and energy derived from renewable biological resources.-Bioresources:Biological resources include agriculture, forestry, and biologically-derived waste, and there are many other renewable bioresource examples. One of the scientific terms...
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 fiberCellulose fiberCellulose fibers are fibres of cellulose from any source, either natural or manufactured.-Textile:In the textile industry regenerated cellulose is used as fibers such as rayon, . Cellulose fibers are manufactured from dissolving pulp...
s-Fibers made from reconstituted cellulose. - caseinCaseinCasein is the name for a family of related phosphoprotein proteins . These proteins are commonly found in mammalian milk, making up 80% of the proteins in cow milk and between 60% and 65% of the proteins in human milk....
-A phosphoproteinPhosphoproteinPhosphoproteins are proteins that are physically bonded to a substance containing phosphoric acid . This category of organic molecules includes Fc receptors, Ulks, Calcineurins, K chips, and urocortins....
extracted from milk during the process of creating low fat milk, it is processed in various ways to make: plasticPlasticA plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
, dietary supplements for body builders, glue, cotton candyCotton candyCotton candy , candy floss or candyfloss or candy buttox , or fairy floss is a form of spun sugar. Since cotton candy is mostly air, a small initial quantity of sugar generates a tremendously greater final volume, causing servings to be physically large and voluminous...
, protective coatings, paints, and occurs naturally in cheese, giving it a creamy texture. - polylactic acidPolylactic acidPoly or polylactide is a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch , tapioca products or sugarcanes...
-A polymerPolymerA polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
produced by industrial fermentationIndustrial fermentationIndustrial fermentation is the intentional use of fermentation by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi to make products useful to humans. Fermented products have applications as food as well as in general industry.- Food fermentation :... - bioplasticBioplasticBioplastics are a form of plastics derived from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, pea starch, or microbiota, rather than fossil-fuel plastics which are derived from petroleum...
s-including a soy oil based plasticPlasticA plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
now being used to make body panels for John DeereJohn DeereJohn Deere was an American blacksmith and manufacturer who founded Deere & Company, one of the largest and leading agricultural and construction equipment manufacturers in the world...
tractorTractorA tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction...
s - engineered woodEngineered woodEngineered wood, also called composite wood, man-made wood, or manufactured board; includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding the strands, particles, fibers, or veneers of wood, together with adhesives, to form composite materials...
-products such as oriented strand boardOriented strand boardOriented strand board, also known as OSB and SmartPly , is an engineered wood product formed by layering strands of wood in specific orientations. In appearance, it may have a rough and variegated surface with the individual strips Oriented strand board, also known as OSB (UK) and SmartPly (UK &...
and particle boardParticle boardParticle board, or particleboard , is an engineered wood product manufactured from wood particles, such as wood chips, sawmill shavings, or even saw dust, and a synthetic resin or other suitable binder, which is pressed and extruded... - zeinZeinZein is a class of prolamine protein found in maize. It is usually manufactured as a powder from corn gluten meal.-Commercial uses:Zein is one of the best understood plant proteins and has a variety of industrial and food uses...
-a natural biopolymerBiopolymerBiopolymers are polymers produced by living organisms. Since they are polymers, Biopolymers contain monomeric units that are covalently bonded to form larger structures. There are three main classes of biopolymers based on the differing monomeric units used and the structure of the biopolymer formed...
which is the most abundant corn protein - cornstarchCornstarchCorn starch, cornstarch, cornflour or maize starch is the starch of the corn grain obtained from the endosperm of the corn kernel.-History:...
-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