Lignocellulosic biomass has been widely investigated as a natural renewable source of feedstock
to produce high value added products which can replace energy and materials obtained from nonrenewable
sources. Polymers are products largely employed in industry in many different applications,
which nowadays are mostly produced from petrochemical derivatives, generating huge amounts
of waste of difficult treatment prior to disposal. In order to replace these polymers derived from
petroleum, efforts have been made in the development of biopolymers, in the biorefinery context, derived
from biomass possessing physicochemical properties similar to those derived from petroleum so that they
can successfully replace these materials. A review on the different types of biopolymers obtained
from biomass, as polysaccharides, lipids, proteins, polyesters produced by plants and microorganisms,
and other assorted biopolymers is accomplished. An evaluation of physicochemical properties and
applications of different types of biopolymers is approached. It is also discussed about the degradability
of biopolymers differentiating oxo-degradability and biodegradability. A brief historic background about biopolymers is also exposed.
