EXPLORING THE INTRICACIES OF BIOPOLYMERS DERIVED FROM VEGETABLE OIL

Abstract

This chapter of the book discussed the shift in emphasis away from conventional polymers and toward environmentally friendly and renewable polymers. As an alternate method for lowering the high demand for fossil feedstocks, one of the options that can be considered is the usage of renewable resources for the manufacture of new materials. Oils extracted from vegetables are a potential source of bioresources because they are renewable and readily available. Various vegetable oils that are based on triglycerides, including but not limited to soybean, jatropha, linseed, sunflower, palm, castor, nahar seed, and canola oil, are currently being evaluated for use as precursors in the manufacturing of polymers. We will attempt to provide a summary of the developments that have occurred in the techniques and technologies that are used for the synthesis of polymers from different kinds of vegetable oils in this article. In addition, the benefits and drawbacks of these biobased polymers in comparison to the conventional monomer-based ones are brought to light.