Made from microorganisms and spawned in seawater, the new sustainable biopolymer technology developed by TAU researchers may one day free the world of its worst pollutant
A new Tel Aviv University study describes a process to make bioplastic polymers that don’t require land or fresh water — resources that are scarce in much of the world. The polymer is derived from microorganisms that feed on seaweed. It is biodegradable, produces zero toxic waste and recycles into organic waste.
The invention was the fruit of a multidisciplinary collaboration between Dr. Alexander Golberg of TAU’s Porter School of Environmental and Earth Sciences and Prof. Michael Gozin of TAU’s School of Chemistry. Their research was recently published in the journal Bioresource Technology.
According to the United Nations, plastic accounts for up to 90 percent of all the pollutants in our oceans, yet there are few comparable, environmentally friendly alternatives to the material.
“Plastics take hundreds of years to decay. So bottles, packaging and bags create plastic ‘continents’ in the oceans, endanger animals and pollute the environment,” says Dr. Golberg. “Plastic is also produced from petroleum products, which has an industrial process that releases chemical contaminants as a byproduct.
“A partial solution to the plastic epidemic is bioplastics, which don’t use petroleum and degrade quickly. But bioplastics also have an environmental price: To grow the plants or the bacteria to make the plastic requires fertile soil and fresh water, which many countries, including Israel, don’t have.
“Our new process produces ‘plastic’ from marine microorganisms that completely recycle into organic waste.”
The researchers harnessed microorganisms that feed on seaweed to produce a bioplastic polymer called polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). “Our raw material was multicellular seaweed, cultivated in the sea,” Dr. Golberg says. “These algae were eaten by single-celled microorganisms, which also grow in very salty water and produce a polymer that can be used to make bioplastic.
“There are already factories that produce this type of bioplastic in commercial quantities, but they use plants that require agricultural land and fresh water. The process we propose will enable countries with a shortage of fresh water, such as Israel, China and India, to switch from petroleum-derived plastics to biodegradable plastics.”
According to Dr. Golberg, the new study could revolutionize the world’s efforts to clean the oceans, without affecting arable land and without using fresh water. “Plastic from fossil sources is one of the most polluting factors in the oceans,” he says. “We have proved it is possible to produce bioplastic completely based on marine resources in a process that is friendly both to the environment and to its residents.
“We are now conducting basic research to find the best bacteria and algae that would be most suitable for producing polymers for bioplastics with different properties,” he concludes.
Learn more:Â Sustainable “Plastics” Are on the Horizon
The Latest on: Sustainable plastics
[google_news title=”” keyword=”sustainable plastics” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Sustainable plastics
- Scientists have figured out way to make algae-based plastic that completely decomposeson May 11, 2024 at 3:01 am
Scientists may have found the answer to manufacturing plastics products that actually break down without forming into microplastics.
- Ecoroots Utilizes Mycelium to Replace Plastics for Sustainable Packagingon May 10, 2024 at 9:58 am
Ecoroots creates sustainable materials to replace traditional plastics, packaging and insulation through its biofoam, a biodegradable, non-toxic and renewable alternative packaging made from mycelium.
- The North Texas company making plastic more sustainableon May 10, 2024 at 4:20 am
The big picture: Revolution Sustainable Solutions has carved a niche role in the sustainability industry by creating products out of recycled plastic for the airline, food and agricultural sectors.
- Looking to get rid of your old cracked plastic plant pots? B&Q wants to take them off your handson May 9, 2024 at 11:00 pm
Do you ever feel a little guilty throwing away your plastic plant pots that have seen better days? Well luckily for you, B&Q have started a new recycling scheme that makes your greenhouse clear out a ...
- Blue Polymers selects Buckeye, Arizona, for recycled plastics facilityon May 9, 2024 at 4:59 pm
to advance plastics circularity and support sustainable packaging. The 162,000-square-foot facility is expected to create more than 60 permanent local jobs when it opens in the second half of 2025, ...
- Boise State University graduate students take 1st place for sustainable design competitionon May 9, 2024 at 1:49 pm
Over 65 entries from 18 countries submitted their water bottle design to tackle plastic waste. Boise State University student’s came in first.
- Plastic Pail Earns Sustainable Stripeson May 9, 2024 at 12:28 pm
Milacron and partners perfect the injection molding of a precise layer of recycled content — mechanical or advanced processes — to sustainably boost the eco-footprint of 5-gal plastic pails.
- Amcor's Roegner says plastics industry needs to step up in face of oppositionon May 9, 2024 at 9:14 am
The head of Amcor Rigid Packaging, a bottle maker, said opposition is not shy about bashing plastics so the plastics industry must respond in kind.
- How Biomaterials Startup MYNUSCo Is Helping Enterprises Become Truly Sustainableon May 9, 2024 at 1:57 am
MYNUSCo makes biocomposites that are derived from renewable and recycled materials such as agri waste and recycled plastics ...
- Greening plastics will require more from industry, BASF CEO sayson May 8, 2024 at 1:52 pm
At a keynote speech at the NPE2024 trade show, the head of BASF in North America urges companies, governments and nongovernmental organizations to join forces to "rethink plastics." ...
via Bing News