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Swedish scientists have managed to develop a biodegradable plastic that will revolutionize the packaging industry
Researchers from the renowned Swiss Institute of Science, the EPFL, managed to develop a new biodegradable plastic very similar to Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). It is manufactured from biomass obtained from corn on the cob and promises to revolutionize the packaging industry. After all, this new plastic can be degraded by bacteria into smaller particles and thus becomes sustainable and prevents it from remaining in nature for many years.
The material created is as resistant as conventional PET, used in packaging and market bags. Some tests showed that it can be a great substitute for PET in packaging for medicines, electronic components, food and even textile products. In addition, it can be chemically recycled or degraded into smaller parts because it is biodegradable. Check out more about this innovation in the article.
Check out in the video below what a biodegradable plastic is and how it is produced
New plastic is sustainable, degrades in the environment and is even produced from the residual biomass of corn cobs
The new plastic that can replace PET only has advantages. One of them is that it reuses corn cob waste and thus avoid waste. Another important aspect is that it can eliminate plastic bottles and market bags that are thrown around and that take up to 2 years to decompose. That is, the process is favorable for the entire production chain.
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“We essentially turn wood or other inedible plant material, such as agricultural waste, into cheap chemicals to produce the plastic precursor in one step. By keeping the sugar structure intact within the molecular structure of the plastic, the chemistry is much simpler than current alternatives.”
Jeremy Luterbacher, one of the authors of the study, in an interview with the MyScience journal (2022).
This discovery was only possible thanks to preliminary studies published in 2016. In this study, they managed to stabilize pieces of material obtained from biomass and contained the destruction in the extraction process. From there, they continued their studies and perfected the material until it achieved technical parameters similar to those of conventional plastic.
The addition of another chemical component in the formulation made the material more resistant
The big problem that scientists had before publishing the 2016 study was the lack of stability in the connection between the made-up pieces. However, they switched a major chemical component in the formulation and managed to form a large stable network.
“By using a different aldehyde – glyoxylic acid instead of formaldehyde – we can simply attach 'sticky' groups to both sides of the sugar molecules, which allows them to act as plastic building blocks. By using this simple technique, we can convert up to 25% of the weight of agricultural waste, or 95% of purified sugar, into plastic.”
Lorenz Manker, one of the authors of the study in an interview with the journal MyScience (2022)
In this sense, this creation is so positive that it will bring a sustainable plastic to the market, one that is really effective and at a more affordable cost. The product created will allow application in packaging of different segments, from food to equipment and electronics.
Besides, it's not just that. The team of scientists created fibers to use in the textile sector and to make garments. In addition, the material also allows for use in filaments that feed 3D printing machines.
“Plastic has very interesting properties, especially for applications such as food packaging. And what makes plastic unique is the presence of the sugar structure intact. That makes it incredibly easy to make because you don't have to modify what nature gives you, and simple to break down because you can go back to a molecule that is already abundant in nature.”
Jeremy Luterbacher, one of the authors of the study, in an interview with the MyScience journal (2022).
Finally, this achievement EPFL it will be very beneficial for the sector and may arrive in Brazil in the coming years.
