Biodegradable Polymers and Composites - Process Engineering to Commercialization is designed in such a way that it not only gives basic knowledge but also contains information regarding conventional and advanced technologies, socio-economic aspects, techno-economic feasibility, modelling tools and detailed Life Cycle Analysis in biopolymer production. The book discusses the advantages and importance of biopolymers over the conventionally produced plastics. Biodegradable Polymers and Composites highlights: the conventional and advanced strategies for biopolymer production; information regarding process engineering and commercialization of biopolymers; models and available modelling techniques in the sector of biopolymer production; and global case studies, opportunities and challenges (technical constraints, institutional constraints and social constraints) associated with biopolymer production.

• Outlines appropriate technologies for biopolymer production
• Evaluates Best Available Technologies (BAT) and provides examples from many geographic areas
• Offers tools enabling evaluation of appropriate technological systems to develop technically best and economical feasible polymers
• Reports new research findings related to biopolymer production

PART 1 - GENERAL
1. Biopolymers - An Introduction
2. Microplastics in aquatic and terrestrial environment
3. Thermoplastic starches
PART 2 - PLANT - BASED BIOPOLYMERS
4. Cellulose
5. Starch
6. Pectin
7. Xylan
PART 3 - MICROBIAL- BASED BIOPOLYMERS
8. Pullulan
9. Poly-hydroxy alkaonates
10. Poly-Glutamic Acid
11. Polyphosphate
12. Poly Lactic Acid
13. Bacterial cellulose
PART 4 - BIOPOLYMER COMPOSITES
14. Biodegradable polymer composites
15. Thermal/rheological behaviour and functional properties of biopolymers and biocomposite
16. Functional biopolymers: synthesis, characterization and applications of chitosan and its blend composites
17. Nanocellulose-reinforced biocomposites
18. Biomedical applications of microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates
PART 5 - PROCESS ENGINEERING AND COMMERCIALIZATION
19. Process development, challenges and commercialization of polyhydroxy-alkanoates (PHAs)
20. Lignin production in plants and pilot and commercial processes