Biobased Materials from Microbial Biomass and Its Derivatives

Author: mycolabadmin
3/11/2020
View Source

Summary

This review explores how scientists are creating environmentally friendly materials using microorganisms like yeast, fungi, and bacteria instead of petroleum. These microbial-based materials can form flexible films suitable for food packaging and other applications. They are biodegradable, renewable, and can even be made from waste products generated by brewing and other industries. This approach offers a sustainable solution to plastic pollution while supporting a circular economy.

Background

Plastic waste has become a major environmental concern, driving research into biobased materials as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based polymers. Microbial biomass offers a renewable source of biopolymers that is not limited by climate conditions or deforestation concerns associated with plant-based biopolymers. This review examines the potential of microbial biomass and its derivatives for developing biodegradable materials.

Objective

The review focuses on the use of microbial biomass and its derivatives as sources of biopolymers for creating new materials. It evaluates yeast biomass, fungal biomass, kefir grains, and bacterial cellulose as promising renewable sources for developing materials with enhanced functional properties for various applications.

Results

The review demonstrates that yeast and fungal biomass produce biodegradable films with good mechanical and optical properties. Kefir grains containing kefiran and dextran form films with excellent optical and mechanical properties comparable to synthetic materials. Bacterial cellulose from fermented beverages like kombucha shows enhanced properties compared to plant cellulose.

Conclusion

Microbial biomass represents a viable and sustainable source for developing biobased materials with improved functional properties. These materials offer environmental advantages and can be produced from renewable sources and industrial byproducts, making them economically attractive for packaging, textiles, construction, and pharmaceutical applications.

Published in:Materials (Basel),
Study Type:Review,
Source: 10.3390/ma13061263, PMID: 32168751