An innovative type of plastic created from algae has shown promising results by not generating microplastics, a study details. This material, when broken down into microparticles, can biodegrade into compost and water in less than seven months.
The scientists behind this breakthrough, from the University of California at San Diego and Algenesis, a company specializing in materials science, suggest that this plastic could eventually replace petroleum derivatives, known for their negative impact on both human health and the environment.
The research team has approached the problem of microplastic pollution from a new perspective, creating a plant polymer capable of decomposing completely in a relatively short time. Michael Burkart, professor at UC San Diego, co-founder of Algenesis and co-author of the study, expressed the importance of finding sustainable alternatives that can decompose at the end of their life cycle, avoiding accumulation in the natural environment.
A plastic created from biodergradable algae
The biodegradation process, essential to this discovery, involves the breakdown of polymers by the action of microorganisms into simpler components, a process that depends on the presence of chemical bonds accessible to microbial enzymes. “Since we began developing these algae-based polymers six years ago, our goal has been to make them completely biodegradable.“said Robert Pomeroy, another co-founder of Algenesis and co-author of the study, noting that this is the first analysis to demonstrate its breakdown into microparticles.
This effort grew out of an earlier project led by Pomeroy, Burkart and Stephen Mayfield, which initially sought to convert algae into fuel, and later drifted toward the creation of a biodegradable polyurethane. The researchers used sandpaper to generate microplastics from the TPU-FC1 polymer and other materials, and through various tests, evaluated the biodegradability of the material.
The results showed that TPU-FC1 experienced a remarkable decrease in its presence as a microplastic in both compost and water, highlighting its biodegradation potential.
For his part, Stephen Mayfield, also co-author of the study, stressed the relevance of this material as a solution that goes beyond mitigating the problem of waste in landfills, as it is a plastic that does not contribute to the problem of microplastics. Algenesis, for its part, has initiated collaborations to apply this material in the production of coated textiles and cell phone cases, showing its feasibility in conventional manufacturing.
Beyond its application in consumer products, the potential of this algae-based plastic opens up new prospects for its use in sectors such as medicine and agriculture, where biodegradability can contribute significantly to reducing environmental impact and improving sustainability.
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Source: newatlas.com
Photo: shutterstock
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