Chapter 9: Biodegradation of Polysaccharide and Protein Based Aerogels

One of the most attractive advantages of bio-based polymers is their excellent biodegradability. Polysaccharide/protein-based aerogels accomplish the biodegradability that silica aerogel lacks and hence have received considerable attention from both academic and industrial researchers over the past decade. The rate of degradation of these bio-based aerogels depends upon its crystallinity and porosity, and unlike polysaccharide aerogels, protein-based aerogels composites exhibit relatively low degradation rates compared with their solid counterparts. This chapter gives an overview of the degradation behaviour of different bio-based aerogels, the knowledge of which will reduce landfill and hence environmental pollution.