BIOPOLYMERS

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BIOPOLYMERS

• WILL THEY REPLACE SYNTHETIC POLYMERS?

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1. The Question

• Biopolymers will they replace synthetic polymers?
• Examples of Biopolymers
• Sourcewww.ecoearth.com.au/partnerships
  .htm

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Biopolymers The Scenario

• Synthetic polymers or plastics are produced from
• crude oil. As the world supply of oil gradually
• diminishes and the price continues to increase.
  It will
• be essential to produce polymers from other
  sources.
• One solution to this problem is the use of
  biopolymers
• produced from renewable resources
• The following web sites will help you research
  this topic
• http//www.o2.org/ideas/cases/biopolymers.html
• http//www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2003/c/11/michae
  l.htm

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Biopolymers diagram showing the important aspects
of these substances that need to be considered in
your research brochure.
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Biopolymers The Research Activity

• This activity will require students to
  produce a brochure
• outlining the following-
• name of the biopolymer
• growth conditions required by the microorganism
  to produce
• the biopolymer
• properties of the biopolymer eg.biodegradable
• evaluation of the uses or potential uses of the
  biopolymer related to its properties
• directions for future research

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Biopolymers Enrichment Activities

• The following sites will be helpful in your
  research
• http//www.kcpc.usyd.edu.au/discovery/
• http//www.pslc.ws/macrog/index.htm
• http//www.beyonddiscovery.org/
• http//www.crc4mse.org/Index.html

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Teaching Resources

• BIOPOLYMERS
• Source New South Wales Stage 6 Chemistry
  Syllabus
• Module 9.2 The Production of Materials
• Use available evidence to gather and present data
  from
• secondary sources and analyse progress in the
  recent
• development and use of a named biopolymer. This
• analysis should name the specific enzymes used or
• organism used to synthesise the material and an
• evaluation of the use or potential use of the
  polymer
• produced related to its properties