Carbohydrate-based alternatives to traditional synthetic plastic microbeads: a critical review

Abstract

Microplastics in the environment threaten ecosystems around the world. Primary microplastics, including porous spherical particles known as microbeads, are actively produced by industry for use in cosmetics, exfoliants, household cleaning supplies, biomedical applications, and more. Not only do microbeads persist in the environment, leading to significant problems, but traditional plastic microbeads are commonly sourced from non-renewable resources and produced using toxic manufacturing processes. For these reasons, there is a push to develop environmentally friendly alternatives, notably from carbohydrate biopolymers. This paper reviews the carbohydrates used to prepare pure bioplastic microbeads. The results also compare the environmental impact, versatility, and capacity of these beads to perform the same functions as those of traditional plastic microbeads. Although we demonstrate that carbohydrate-based plastic microbeads pose a lesser environmental threat than conventional petroleum- or biobased synthetic options, this work concludes that the specific ecological impacts and potential applications vary widely. Among the biopolymers discussed within this review, we conclude that cellulose, chitin, or chitosan-based varieties hold considerable potential to provide an eco-friendly microbead for industry.