Researchers from Japan they developed an alternative plastic that doesn't pollute the oceans.
This new material is as strong and durable as conventional plastic, but with one key difference: when it comes into contact with salty seawater, it completely dissolves, leaving behind molecules that can be eaten by microorganisms. says Climate 101.
The experimental findings of the research, led by the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, were published last November in the scientific journal Science.
Scientists around the world have long been trying to develop safe and sustainable materials that could replace conventional plastics and thus reduce the pollution problem.
According to the authors of the study, despite the fact that there are different types of biodegradable and recyclable plastics today, one big problem still remains unsolved: when they reach the ocean, they cannot be broken down because they are not soluble in water.
The decomposition of such plastic creates microplastics, i.e. plastic particles smaller than five millimeters that harm marine life and through the food chain, reach the human body.
The most commonly used types of plastic today consist of atoms and molecules connected by strong bonds, which resist microorganisms and external influences such as water, light, oxygen and heat. This is why these materials are extremely durable. However, this further means that improperly disposed plastic waste decomposes very slowly, polluting the environment.
The new plastic breaks down in eight and a half hours
On the other hand, biodegradable plastic from Japan consists of medium-sized molecules connected by bonds that are strong enough for use, but degrade very quickly under certain conditions. And those "certain conditions" imply - so.
In salty, seawater, the decomposition of new plastic takes place in only eight and a half hours, while in ordinary, desalinated water, the material retains its structure.
After discovering the strong but seawater-degradable plastic, the researchers' next step was to test its quality: the new material is non-toxic and non-flammable, and can be reshaped at high temperatures just like ordinary plastic.
But beyond that… The team has produced plastics of varying hardness and strength that are in many cases better than conventional plastics. This means that the material can be adjusted according to the need: from hard and resistant plastic to silicone-soft and elastic materials. Application is possible in 3D printing, as well as in medicine.
After dissolving in salt water, the scientists were able to recover 91% and 82% of the initial components, which shows that the material is easy to recycle.
In the soil, the plastic films completely decomposed in just 10 days, providing the soil with phosphorus and nitrogen – similar to fertilizer.
"With this material, we have created a completely new family of plastics that are strong, stable, recyclable, multifunctional and, most importantly, do not create microplastics," said Takuzo Aida, one of the authors of the study.
A long road to mass use
Although promising, the new plastic still has a long way to go before mass adoption. To truly be a viable replacement for plastic as we know it, it will need to be produced in large quantities at low cost. The good news is that this material can be made in water and without heating, and one of the ingredients is cheap and readily available, while the other can be obtained by simple synthesis from commercial chemicals.
Researchers are now working on developing new versions that would cover an even wider range of applications. The flexibility of the material is currently weaker compared to conventional plastics, but the team believes that they will soon solve that challenge as well.
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