Technological watch

Biodegradable melanoidin polymers of varying solubility prepared from non-fossil fuel¬ based ingredients by a method that includes at least the following steps: a) mixing by application of shear force a quantity of a reducing carbohydrate source and a quantity of an amino group-containing compound to provide a mixture, wherein neither the carbohydrates nor the amino acid group compounds are isolated from fossil fuels; b) heating the mixture for a sufficient amount of time at a sufficient temperature and pressure with sufficient moisture so that a Maillard reaction occurs between the amino groups and the reducing carbohydrate source provides a Maillard reaction product that will effectively yield a bioplastic; c) stopping the reaction before it proceeds significantly beyond the melanoidin¬ formation steps of the Maillard reaction to limit the formation of acrylamides; and d) vacuum-dehydrating the bioplastic reaction product under reduced pressure. Compositions prepared by the disclosed methods are also provided.