Abstract
Biodegradable biopolymers have gained much attention over synthetic nonbiodegradable petroleum-based polymers. Petroleum-based nonbiodegradable polymers are produced in large amounts globally, which end up in the landfill. Their accumulation in the environment can be a major threat to human health and ecology. Shifting to biodegradable polymers can reduce the waste disposal problems associated with conventional petroleum-based polymers. Various biopolymers from natural sources are highly used in many applications, including agriculture, packaging, biomedical, and environmental remediation applications, due to their biodegradability, eco-friendliness, biocompatibility, low cost, and availability. This chapter discusses the type of various biodegradable polymers in terms of classifications, mechanisms, chemical structures, and biodegradability of various biopolymers. This chapter mainly covers the natural biopolymers, including starch, cellulose, pectin, chitin, gellan gum, gelatin, polylactic acid (PLA), and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).
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