Renewable Lignocellulosic and Starch Feedstocks for Biodegradable Polymers in Kazakhstan: Resource Chemistry, Conversion Routes, and Implementation Priorities
9 affiliations
- 1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, M. Kh. Dulaty Taraz University, Taraz 080000, Kazakhstan
- 2Faculty of Chemistry, Tashkent State Technical University, University Str. 2, Tashkent City 100095, Uzbekistan
- 3Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Geography, Kazakh National Pedagogical University Named After Abai, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan
- 4Department of Chemistry, Kazakh National Pedagogical University Named After Abai, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan
- 5Farabi University, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
- 6Mukhtar Auezov South Kazakhstan Research University, Shymkent 160012, Kazakhstan
- 7Astana International University, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
- 8School-Lyceum No. 35 Named After Nazir Torekulov, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
- 9M. Utemisov West Kazakhstan University, Uraslsk 090000, Kazakhstan
Abstract
Kazakhstan combines a large agricultural-residue base with an expanding grain-processing sector, creating a credible platform for biodegradable polymers if feedstock availability is matched to polymer chemistry, pretreatment intensity, and realistic end-of-life routes. This critical review integrates Kazakhstan-specific production data with the chemistry of starch, cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, and rice-husk silica and evaluates the conversion pathways most relevant to domestic implementation. Collectible dry residues from wheat, barley, maize, and rice are estimated at about 15.1 Mt yr−1, while potato and cereal starch streams provide directly processable carbohydrates. Near-term options are thermoplastic starch (TPS), cellulose/nanocellulose reinforcement, lignin-containing functional composites, and hybrid materials using rice-husk-derived silica. PLA and PHA offer higher-value routes but require fermentation, purification, polymerization or recovery, and dedicated end-of-life infrastructure. The review emphasizes molecular limitations—hydrogen-bonded polysaccharide networks, retrogradation, interfacial polarity mismatch, lignocellulosic recalcitrance, filler agglomeration, and environment-dependent biodegradation—and links them to processing and performance tests. A staged strategy is proposed: compound and reinforce existing starch streams first, build regional fractionation and standardized intermediate platforms next, and develop PLA/PHA fermentation only after low-cost carbon streams, product markets, and life-cycle advantages are demonstrated.
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BibTeX
@article{nurlybayeva2026renewable,
title = {{Renewable Lignocellulosic and Starch Feedstocks for Biodegradable Polymers in Kazakhstan: Resource Chemistry, Conversion Routes, and Implementation Priorities}},
author = {Aisha Nurlybayeva and Ayazhan Yegissinova and Elmurod Egamberdiev and Nurbanu Sarova and Zulfiya Unerbayeva and Raikhan Rakhmetullayeva and Dina Asylbekova and Nazgul Murzakasymova and Damen Nurgaliyeva and Nurana Kerimova and Bakytgul Kussainova},
journal = {Polymers},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/polym18202493},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2493},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Renewable Lignocellulosic and Starch Feedstocks for Biodegradable Polymers in Kazakhstan: Resource Chemistry, Conversion Routes, and Implementation Priorities
AU - Aisha Nurlybayeva
AU - Ayazhan Yegissinova
AU - Elmurod Egamberdiev
AU - Nurbanu Sarova
AU - Zulfiya Unerbayeva
AU - Raikhan Rakhmetullayeva
AU - Dina Asylbekova
AU - Nazgul Murzakasymova
AU - Damen Nurgaliyeva
AU - Nurana Kerimova
AU - Bakytgul Kussainova
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Polymers
DO - 10.3390/polym18202493
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2493
AB - Kazakhstan combines a large agricultural-residue base with an expanding grain-processing sector, creating a credible platform for biodegradable polymers if feedstock availability is matched to polymer chemistry, pretreatment intensity, and realistic end-of-life routes. This critical review integrates Kazakhstan-specific production data with the chemistry of starch, cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, and rice-husk silica and evaluates the conversion pathways most relevant to domestic implementation. Collectible dry residues from wheat, barley, maize, and rice are estimated at about 15.1 Mt yr−1, while potato and cereal starch streams provide directly processable carbohydrates. Near-term options are thermoplastic starch (TPS), cellulose/nanocellulose reinforcement, lignin-containing functional composites, and hybrid materials using rice-husk-derived silica. PLA and PHA offer higher-value routes but require fermentation, purification, polymerization or recovery, and dedicated end-of-life infrastructure. The review emphasizes molecular limitations—hydrogen-bonded polysaccharide networks, retrogradation, interfacial polarity mismatch, lignocellulosic recalcitrance, filler agglomeration, and environment-dependent biodegradation—and links them to processing and performance tests. A staged strategy is proposed: compound and reinforce existing starch streams first, build regional fractionation and standardized intermediate platforms next, and develop PLA/PHA fermentation only after low-cost carbon streams, product markets, and life-cycle advantages are demonstrated.
SN - 2073-4360
ER -