a day ago
Scientists make new plastic that dissolves in water in a few hours
Plastic is undoubtedly one of the main causes of ocean pollution worldwide. Not only is microplastic present in our food, but the material has also found its way into the placentas of unborn babies and goes as deep as the Mariana Trench itself. However, a new plastic material developed by scientists in Japan might help us lessen ocean pollution.
Developed by scientists from the RIKEN Centre for Emergent Matter Science and the University of Tokyo, the new plastic material has the strength of a petroleum-based plastic. But unlike normal plastics, which take anywhere between 20 to 500 years to decompose, the new plastic material breaks down into its original components when exposed to salt.
These components are then processed by bacteria present in the water and leave no microplastic or nanoplastic particles behind. According to Reuters, the researchers showcased the new degradable plastic material in a lab in Wako City near Tokyo. During the demonstration, they focused on how the material dissolved in salty water in about an hour. In case you are wondering, salt is also found in soil, but it would take 200 hours underground for the new material to completely break down.
Moreover, it looks like the new plastic material is non-toxic for humans, has fire-resistant capabilities and does not release Carbon Dioxide. The researchers also said that the material is not ready for commercial purposes, but they are actively working on developing a coating method. Project lead Takuzo Aida said that their research has already attracted significant interest from players in the packaging sector.
According to the UN Environment Programme, plastic pollution is estimated to triple by the year 2040, adding somewhere between 23 to 37 million metric tons of waste every year only in the ocean.
Last year, a study published in the journal Nature claimed that India accounts for a fifth of global plastic pollution. The country burns approximately 5.8 million tonnes of plastic every year in addition to releasing another 2.5 million tonnes into land, air and water as debris, making India the highest plastic polluter in the world.
