Ketal-Modified Cellulose as a Biodegradable Bioplastic

Polymeric plastic materials pervade every part of modern society. The vast majority of these plastics are petroleum-based; their production generates over 2 gigatons of CO₂ equivalent annually, and their waste biodegrades extraordinarily slowly. Thus, there is an urgent need to transition away from nonrenewable nonbiodegradable plastics. Biologically derived polymers hold potential to produce plastics with drastically reduced environmental impact, during both their production and waste remediation. Cellulose esters and ethers are among the oldest successful renewable plastics, but they can suffer limitations related to their processability and degradability. We report on the homogeneous phase chemical modification of cellulose to form methoxy isopropylidine acetal-modified cellulose, MiP-Cel. Chemical and materials characterization reveals a high degree of substitution and excellent solution processability. MiP-Cel forms transparent, smooth, freestanding films, which are measured for optical clarity and hydrophobicity. Finally, the pH-dependent degradation of MiP-Cel-derived materials is assessed.