Latest news with #TakuzoAida
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Science
- BBC News
Scientists develop plastic that dissolves in seawater
Scientists in Japan have developed a plastic that dissolves in say the new material breaks down quickly in around two to three hours, depending on its thickness and size. Many existing biodegradable plastics aren't able to fully dissolve, leaving behind harmful microplastics that can pollute the ocean and harm it's hoped that the new non-toxic material could offer a future solution as it disappears completely. What have scientists developed? The new plastic was co-developed by the University of Tokyo in Japan and the country's RIKEN Centre for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS). Researchers say it is made by combining two small molecules which form a strong bond that allows the new material to stay tough and scientists have long experimented with biodegradable plastics, the team say their invention breaks down much more quickly and leaves no placed in a mixture which had the same amount of salt as seawater, they found the new plastic dissolved "quickly in about two to three hours, depending on its thickness and size."And it's not just in water where the new plastic can dissolve. Takuzo Aida, lead researcher at CEMS, explained: "Similarly, when tested in soil..a piece of plastic about 5 centimetres in size, it completely disappears after a little over 200 hours." Plastic pollution is a big global problem, with experts at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) saying the amount of waste is set to triple in the next 15 studies have shown the damage microplastics cause as they pollute the environment and create health problems for animals, because they can be easily new plastic is still in the early phase of development but Mr Aida said their research has attracted a lot of interest, including from those in the packaging added: "In Japan, almost all packaging is made of plastic, and if we can really manage to reduce that, we can expect less environmental damage." Currently, less than 9% of global plastic waste is successfully recycled.
Japan Today
a day ago
- Science
- Japan Today
Scientists in Japan develop plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours
Takuzo Aida, Group Director at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), poses for a photo at the CEMS of Japanese research institution Riken in Wako, Saitama Prefecture. By Irene Wang Researchers in Japan have developed a plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours, offering up a potential solution for a modern-day scourge polluting oceans and harming wildlife. While scientists have long experimented with biodegradable plastics, researchers from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and the University of Tokyo say their new material breaks down much more quickly and leaves no residual trace. A researcher shows a sample of ocean-degradable plastic at the Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) of Japanese research institution RIKEN in Wako, Saitama Prefecture. Image: REUTERS/Manami Yamada The sample of colored ocean-degradable plastic being stirred and dissolved in salty water is seen during a demonstration at the Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) of Japanese research institution RIKEN. Image: REUTERS/Manami Yamada At a lab in Wako city in Saitama Prefecture, the team demonstrated a small piece of plastic vanishing in a container of salt water after it was stirred up for about an hour. While the team has not yet detailed any plans for commercialization, project lead Takuzo Aida said their research has attracted significant interest, including from those in the packaging sector. Scientists worldwide are racing to develop innovative solutions to the growing plastic waste crisis, an effort championed by awareness campaigns such as World Environment Day on June 5. Plastic pollution is set to triple by 2040, the U.N. Environment Program has predicted, adding 23-37 million metric tons of waste into the world's oceans each year. "Children cannot choose the planet they will live on. It is our duty as scientists to ensure that we leave them with best possible environment," Aida said. Aida said the new material is as strong as petroleum-based plastics but breaks down into its original components when exposed to salt. Those components can then be further processed by naturally occurring bacteria, thereby avoiding generating microplastics that can harm aquatic life and enter the food chain. As salt is also present in soil, a piece about five centimeters in size disintegrates on land after over 200 hours, he added. The material can be used like regular plastic when coated, and the team are focusing their current research on the best coating methods, Aida said. The plastic is non-toxic, non-flammable, and does not emit carbon dioxide, he added. © Thomson Reuters 2025
NDTV
3 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
Japanese Scientists Develop Plastic That Vanishes In Seawater
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Japanese scientists create a new plastic that dissolves quickly in seawater without residue. This plastic matches the strength of traditional petroleum-based materials but breaks down safely. While non-toxic and beneficial for soil, it requires careful management to avoid ecosystem overload. Japanese scientists have developed a new type of plastic that dissolves quickly in seawater, leaving no harmful residue, potentially offering a breakthrough in dealing with ocean pollution. Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and the University of Tokyo developed the new plastic material that has the strength of conventional petroleum-based plastics but breaks down into its original components when exposed to salt. "This new plastic is a culmination of his three decades of pioneering work as an expert in materials called supramolecular polymers," the researchers highlighted. As per project lead Takuzo Aida, his team sought to discover a combination of compounds that would create a supramolecular material with good mechanical strength, but that can break down quickly under the right conditions into non-toxic compounds and elements. After going through a series of compounds, the researchers settled upon a combination of sodium hexametaphosphate (a common food additive) and guanidinium ion-based monomers (used for fertilisers and soil conditioners). "Screening molecules can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. But we found the combination early on, which made us think, 'This could actually work'," said Mr Aida. The researchers revealed that the new material leaves behind nitrogen and phosphorus, which microbes can metabolise and plants can absorb. It is non-toxic for humans, has fire-resistant capabilities and does not release carbon dioxide. However, Mr Aida cautioned that despite the benefits, careful management was required. "While these elements can enrich soil, they could also overload coastal ecosystems with nutrients, which are associated with algal blooms that disrupt entire ecosystems." Menace of microplastics Microplastics, the tiny pieces of plastic smaller than five millimetres, have been spotted, ranging from the Mariana Trench to Mount Everest. They are found in human brains, placentas, and the bellies of fish deep in the ocean. Scientists have demanded that a global emergency be declared as microplastic pollution poses a serious threat to the health and well-being of all life on the planet.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
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.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Science
- Express Tribune
Japanese scientists develop plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours
Listen to article Researchers in Japan have developed a plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours, offering up a potential solution for a modern-day scourge polluting oceans and harming wildlife. While scientists have long experimented with biodegradable plastics, researchers from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and the University of Tokyo say their new material breaks down much more quickly and leaves no residual trace. At a lab in Wako city near Tokyo, the team demonstrated a small piece of plastic vanishing in a container of salt water after it was stirred up for about an hour. While the team has not yet detailed any plans for commercialisation, project lead Takuzo Aida said their research has attracted significant interest, including from those in the packaging sector. Scientists worldwide are racing to develop innovative solutions to the growing plastic waste crisis, an effort championed by awareness campaigns such as World Environment Day, taking place on June 5. Plastic pollution is set to triple by 2040, the UN Environment Programme has predicted, adding 23-37 million metric tons of waste into the world's oceans each year. "Children cannot choose the planet they will live on. It is our duty as scientists to ensure that we leave them with the best possible environment," Aida said. Aida said the new material is as strong as petroleum-based plastics but breaks down into its original components when exposed to salt. Those components can then be further processed by naturally occurring bacteria, thereby avoiding generating microplastics that can harm aquatic life and enter the food chain. As salt is also present in soil, a piece about five centimetres (two inches) in size disintegrates on land after over 200 hours, he added. The material can be used like regular plastic when coated, and the team is focusing their current research on the best coating methods, Aida said. The plastic is non-toxic, non-flammable, and does not emit carbon dioxide, he added. The discovery was announced just ahead of World Environment Day, marked annually on June 5th, with this year's theme once again focusing on Beat Plastic Pollution. The global observance highlights the urgent need for action to reduce plastic waste, which continues to pose significant threats to ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. This year's theme reinforces the growing push for sustainable alternatives and solutions to combat the widespread environmental damage caused by plastic pollution. As part of the global effort, World Environment Day aims to raise awareness about the devastating impact of plastic waste and encourages governments, businesses, and individuals to take proactive steps to address the issue. With plastic pollution becoming one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, this year's observance is a timely reminder of the collective responsibility to preserve the planet for future generations.
