ABSTRACT
About 100 billion tons of biomass is produced through photosynthesis annually, and the majority of this material comprises starch, cellulose, proteins, and other polysaccharides. In comparison, about 25 billion pounds of petroleum-based plastics were produced in the United States in 2008 [1,2]. The application of petroleum-based plastics exploded after World War II due to cheaper fossil fuel prices and better functionality including mechanical strength and barrier properties. However, after the fossil fuel crisis in 1973, development and application of biodegradable polymers gained fresh impetus.
