Abstract
It is likely that during this century polymers based on renewable materials will gradually replace industrial polymers based on petrochemicals. This chapter gives an overview of the current status of research on plant biopolymers that are used as a material in non-food applications. We cover technical and scientific bottlenecks in the production of novel or improved materials, and the potential of using transgenic or alternative crops in overcoming these bottlenecks. Four classes of biopolymers will be discussed: starch, proteins, natural rubber, and poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates. Renewable polymers produced by chemical polymerization of monomers derived from sugars, vegetable oil, or proteins, are not considered here.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Gaskell G, Allansdottir A, Allum N, Corchero C, Fischler C, Hampel J, Jackson J, Kronberger N, Mejlgaard N, Revuelta G, Schreiner C, Stares S, Torgersen H, Wagner W (2006) Europeans and biotechnology in 2005: patterns and trends, Eurobarometer 64.3. European Commission's Directorate-General for Research, Brussels, Belgium
Mecking S (2004) Angew Chem 43:1078
Thakor N, Luetke-Eversloh T, Steinbuechel A (2005) Appl Environ Microbiol 71:835
Kurdikar D, Fournet L, Slater SC, Paster M, Gruys KJ, Gerngross TU, Coulon R (2001) J Ind Ecol 4:107
Dornburg V, Lewandowski I, Patel M (2004) J Ind Ecol 7:93
Luinstra G, Almendinger M, Rieger B (2005) US Patent 7019107
The National Non-Food Crops Centre UK (2005) The promotion of non-food crops. Report number IP/B/AGRI/ST/2005-02. Directorate General Internal Policies of the European Union, Brussels, Belgium
Crank M, Patel M, Marscheider-Weidemann F, Schleich J, Hüsing B, Angerer G (2004) PRO-BIP. Techno-economic feasibility of large-scale production of bio-based polymers in Europe. European Commission's Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, Utrecht, Karlsruhe
Van Camp W (2005) Curr Opin Biotechnol 16:147
Blennow A (2003) Recent Dev Carbohydrate Res 1:95
Blennow A, Wischmann B, Houborg K, Ahmt T, Jorgensen K, Engelsen SB, Bandsholm O, Poulsen P (2005) Int J Biol Macromol 36:159
Jobling S (2004) Curr Opin Plant Biol 7:210
Morell MK, Myers AM (2005) Curr Opin Plant Biol 8:204
Van Soest JJG, Essers P (1997) J Macromol Sci, Pure Appl Chem A34:1665
Kaplan DL (ed) (1998) Biopolymers from renewable sources. Macromolecular systems – materials approach. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Bastioli C (2005) Handbook of biodegradable polymers. Rapra Technology, Shawbury
Pauly M, Scheller HV (2000) Planta 210:659
Balsiger J, Bahdon J, Whiteman A (2000) The utilization, processing and demand for rubberwood as a source of wood supply. FAO, Forestry Policy and Planning Division, Rome, Italy
Davis W (1997) The rubber industry's biological nightmare. Fortune Magazine, 4 August 1997
Le Guen V, Lespinasse D, Oliver G, Rodier-Goud M, Pinard F, Seguin M (2003) Theor Appl Genet 108:160
Lespinasse D, Grivet L, Troispoux V, Rodier-Goud M, Pinard F, Seguin M (2000) Theor Appl Genet 100:975
Blanc G, Baptiste C, Oliver G, Martin F, Montoro P (2006) Plant Cell Rep 24:724
Ray DT, Coffelt TA, Dierig DA (2005) Ind Crops Prod 22:15
Cornish K (1996) US Patent 5580942
Nakayama FS (2005) Ind Crops Prod 22:3
Polhamus LG (1962) Rubber: botany, production, and utilization. Leonard Hill, London
Whaley WG, Bowen JS (1947) Russian dandelion (Kok-Saghyz). An emergency source of natural rubber. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington DC
Cornish K, McMahan CM, Pearson CH, Ray DT, Shintani DK (2005) Rubber World 233:40
Falque M, Keurentjes J, Bakx-Schotman JMT, van Dijk PJ (1998) Theor Appl Genet 97:283
Mooibroek H, Cornish K (2000) Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 53:355
Lawton JW (2002) Cereal Chem 79:1
Mohanty AK, Liu W, Tummala P, Drzal LT, Misra M, Narayan R (2005) Soy protein-based plastics, blends, and composites. In: Mohanty AK, Misra M, Drzal LT (eds) Natural fibers, biopolymers, and biocomposites. CRC, Boca Raton, FL, p 699
Pallos FM, Robertson GH, Pavlath AE, Orts WJ (2006) J Agric Food Chem 54:349
Wondu Holdings (2004) Bioplastics supply chains – implications and opportunities for agriculture. RIRDC publication no: 04/044. Australian Government, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Kingston, ACT, Australia
Sanford K, Kumar M (2005) Curr Opin Biotechnol 16:416
Scheibel T (2005) Curr Opin Biotechnol 16:427
Scheller J, Conrad U (2005) Curr Opin Plant Biol 8:188
Yang J, Barr LA, Fahnestock SR, Liu Z-B (2005) Transgenic Res 14:313
Shih IL, Shen MH, Van YT (2006) Biores Technol 97:1148
Shih IL, Van YT (2001) Biores Technol 79:207
Neumann K, Stephan DP, Ziegler K, Huhns M, Broer I, Lockau W, Pistorius EK (2005) Plant Biotechnol J 3:249
Elbahloul Y, Frey K, Sanders J, Steinbuchel A (2005) Appl Environ Microbiol 71:7759
Lenz RW, Marchessault RH (2005) Biomacromolecules 6:1
Noda I, Green PR, Satkowski MM, Schechtman LA (2005) Biomacromolecules 6:580
Van der Walle GAM, De Koning GJM, Weusthuis RA, Eggink G (2001) Adv Biochem Engin Biotechnol 71:263
Witholt B, Kessler B (1999) Curr Opin Biotechnol 10:279
Farrell AE, Plevin RJ, Turner BT, Jones AD, O'Hare M, Kammen DM (2006) Science 311:506
Kim S, Dale BE (2005) Int J LCA 10:200
Moire L, Rezzonico E, Poirier Y (2003) J Plant Physiol 160:831
Bohmert K, Balbo I, Kopka J, Mittendorf V, Nawrath C, Poirier Y, Tischendorf G, Trethewey RN, Willmitzer L (2000) Planta 211:841
Houmiel KL, Slater S, Broyles D, Casagrande L, Colburn S, Gonzalez K, Mitsky TA, Reiser SE, Shah D, Taylor NB, Tran M, Valentin HE, Gruys KJ (1999) Planta 209:547
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
van Beilen, J.B., Poirier, Y. (2007). Prospects for Biopolymer Production in Plants. In: Fiechter, A., Sautter, C. (eds) Green Gene Technology. Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology, vol 107. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2007_056
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/10_2007_056
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-71321-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-71323-4
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)