Hello, ladies and gentlemen. I'm the "Environmental Bank" who possesses all the worldwide environmental issues. On March 12th, 2024, scientists from University of California-San Diego and Algenesis developed a new type of plastic that biodegrade in under 7 months, even in the form of microplastics. Let's delve into the issue.
What are microplastics?
Microplastics are defined as plastic pieces smaller than five millimeters, which are indestructible.
Microplastics persist in the environment for hundreds or even thousands of years in oceans, rivers, soils, and air, directly impacting on the environment.
Moreover, microplastics can pose health problems to animals, plants, and even humans, since humans intake animals and plants that consume microplastic unintentionally.
Therefore, humans sincerely have been looking for the development of biodegradable plastics.
What are the differentiations of biodegradable plastic compared to common plastics?
Common plastic
- were made of petroleum-based polynomers with chemical bonds that are not easily broken down
New-developed plastic (Biodegradable plastic)
- contains polyurethane, dubbed TPU-FC1, composed of ester and urethane linkages, which accelerates a reaction where water splits the bond
What effect did biodegradable plastic have?
- Removal of microplastics
Researchers found that nearly 70% of the TPU-FC1 microplastics had disappeared after 90 days in the compost.
By 200 days, only 3% of the plastic remained with the rest being completely broken down by microbes.
- Sustaining the natural process (without causing long-term harm)
When microbes breaking down the plastic, they converted the carbon in the plastic into CO2, which is the part of the natural carbon cycle.
What is the significance of the experiment?
This material is the first plastic demonstrated to not create microplastics as we use it. This is more than just a sustainable solution for the end-of-product life cycle and our crowded landfills. This is actually plastic that is not going to make us sick.
Stephen Mayfield, a co-author of the study, UCSD School of Biological Sciences Professor and co-founder of Algenesis
We indeed need further research on the effect of biodegradable plastics, yet the experiment indeed suggests a bright future without plastics or microplastics.
Scientists are expecting that materials like TPU-FC1 could play a significant role in stemming the tide of microplastics and moving us toward a more sustainable plastic future.
Wrap-Up
Until recently, the challenge of combating plastic pollution seemed insurmountable, as there were no materials that could fight against plastics for 100 years. However, thanks to the researchers from UCSD, UCSD provided the material that could overcome this current situation. I truly saw the hope for our future, and I strongly believe that we would develop the materials that can completely break down the plastics, within 20 years.
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