Omar Khalid
Biodegradable plastic is a solution to the ever-growing problem of plastic pollution. While the concept of biodegradable plastics was discovered in the 1920s, several women have since invented new types of biodegradable plastics. For instance, 16-year-old Elif Bilgin from Istanbul invented biodegradable plastic using only banana peels, while 17-year-old Angelina Arora invented biodegradable plastic made from prawn shells. More recently, chemical engineer Sharon Barak invented a type of biodegradable plastic that functions like conventional plastic but dissolves harmlessly in water.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Inventor | Sharon Barak, Elif Bilgin, Angelina Arora |
| Age | 16, 17 |
| Country | Israel, Istanbul, Australia |
| Invention | Biodegradable plastic |
| Invention Material | Banana peels, prawn shells, seaweed |
| Decomposition Time | 33 days, 5 hours in water, 12 weeks in soil |
| Plastic Replaced | Food packaging, supermarket bags, bottles |
| Plastic Composition | 100% eco-friendly materials |
| Plastic Properties | Flexible, durable, transparent |
| Plastic Breakdown | Broken down by microorganisms in natural environments |
| Plastic Benefits | Reduces plastic pollution, provides agricultural nutrients |
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What You'll Learn
Sharon Barak's eco-friendly plastic
Sharon Barak, a chemical engineer from Israel, has developed a new type of eco-friendly plastic that can biodegrade in water. Barak's innovation addresses the pressing issue of plastic pollution, which has been accumulating for decades. The average plastic cup takes 50 years to biodegrade, a straw takes 200 years, and a plastic bottle takes 450 years. Barak's goal was to create a product that resembled plastic in terms of appearance, texture, and functionality but could dissolve harmlessly in water without harming the environment.
Barak and her team at Sakitech dedicated significant time and effort to experimenting with various components until they discovered the perfect formula. The "fake" plastic they invented is made from 100% eco-friendly materials that effortlessly dissolve in water, seamlessly becoming one with nature. This innovative plastic is incredibly safe that one could even drink its water solution. If a bag made from this material ends up in the ocean, it will disintegrate in just a few minutes, posing no danger to marine life, which is a common issue with conventional plastic bags.
Barak's eco-friendly plastic stands out as it does not require a complex recycling process. This biodegradable substitute can be used for food wrapping and bottle manufacturing, just like regular plastic. The potential impact of this invention is immense, as it could replace all the plastic in the world with an eco-friendly alternative. Barak's ambition is to introduce her invention to the world and believes that mass production of her eco-friendly plastic will contribute to a better living environment.
Barak's journey began when she worked at a plastics company before deciding to leave and tackle the plastic pollution problem head-on. Her determination to address this global issue through innovation and technology is inspiring, and her work has been recognised by platforms such as Global Shakers and F6S. Barak's invention is a significant step forward in the ongoing battle against plastic pollution, offering a potential solution to reduce the time it takes for plastic to decay from centuries to mere minutes.
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Elif Bilgin's banana peel plastic
While biodegradable plastic was not invented by a woman, a 16-year-old Turkish student, Elif Bilgin, has developed a method to turn banana peels into a bioplastic to replace petroleum-based plastic. Bilgin's process involves dipping banana peels in a sodium metabisulphite solution before boiling and pureeing them. The resulting paste is then baked to create a type of plastic that can be used for cable insulation or cosmetic prosthetics.
Banana peels are high in starch and cellulose and are generally thrown out, making them the perfect solution for Bilgin's project. She was inspired by Marie Curie and Thomas Edison and spent two years refining her techniques, conducting 12 trial runs, with only the last two succeeding.
Bilgin's endeavours won her the top prize of $50,000 at the Scientific American Science in Action competition, as well as the Voter's Choice Award for the Google Science Fair 2013. Her project has drawn great media attention worldwide, and she has been invited to speak at Google Zeitgeist America 2013, Tedx Vienna, and Tedx Istanbul.
Bilgin's discovery is an important step towards combating plastic pollution, which has become a pressing issue. Millions of tons of plastic are produced globally each year, with a significant portion being single-use items that remain in nature for hundreds of years. Bioplastics, derived from renewable sources, offer a biodegradable alternative to synthetic plastics, which are challenging to decompose.
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Angelina Arora's prawn plastic
While it is unclear whether a woman first invented biodegradable plastic, one woman who has invented biodegradable plastic is Angelina Arora. At just 15 years old, Angelina invented a bioplastic made from prawn shells.
Angelina was inspired to create a bioplastic after observing piles of crab shells, prawn tails, and fish heads at her local fish and chip shop. She noticed the similarities between prawn shells and plastic and began experimenting with creating a plastic from waste materials. She took some discarded shells to her school's science lab and eventually found a way to turn them into a strong, light, and flexible bioplastic.
Angelina's plastic is made by extracting a carbohydrate called chitin from prawn shells and combining it with fibroin. Chitin is a hard but flexible protein found in prawn shells, as well as in crab and lobster shells. The final material has the strength of a prawn's shell and the flexibility of a spider's web. It also degrades completely in a little over 30 days, leaving nothing harmful behind.
Angelina's invention has won multiple awards, including first prize in chemistry at the NSW Young Scientist Awards in 2016 for her plastic made from cornstarch. Her prawn shell plastic also won second prize in chemistry at the Young Scientist Awards and the Innovator to Market category in BHP's Billiton Foundation Science & Engineering Awards. Several companies have expressed interest in her invention, and she has several patents pending.
Angelina hopes to see her plastic used worldwide in everyday items such as bags, phone screens, and food packaging. She also hopes to be a role model for other young girls considering a career in science.
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Polyhydroxybutyrate (P(3HB))
The discovery of P(3HB) is credited to researcher Maurice Lemoigne at the Pasteur Institute in France in 1923 or 1925. Lemoigne's discovery marked the beginning of the history of biodegradable plastics. P(3HB) is produced by microorganisms in response to conditions of physiological stress, particularly when nutrients are limited. The polymer is formed through the condensation of two molecules of acetyl-CoA, which is then reduced to hydroxybutyryl-CoA. This compound is used as a monomer to polymerize P(3HB).
P(3HB) exhibits good oxygen permeability and ultraviolet resistance but poor resistance to acids and bases. It is soluble in chloroform and other chlorinated hydrocarbons. The polymer has a melting point of 175°C and a glass transition temperature of about 2°C. Its tensile strength is approximately 40 MPa, similar to polypropylene. P(3HB) sinks in water, facilitating its anaerobic biodegradation in sediments.
P(3HB) has been considered for use in tissue engineering and medical applications due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. It is currently used in the medical industry for internal sutures under the trade name "Biopol". P(3HB) can also be used as a coating material for scaffolds, improving their compressive strength while maintaining high porosity. Additionally, P(3HB) and its derivatives have been investigated for potential use in controlled drug release vehicles and orthopedic applications.
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Bioplastics history
The history of bioplastics is a long and varied one, with early bioplastics being made from natural materials like shellac or cellulose. The first man-made plastic was created in 1855 by Alexander Parkes, who called it Parkesine. This material, now known as celluloid, was a bioplastic made from cellulose. In 1897, German chemists invented Galalith, a milk-based bioplastic that is still produced today. In 1907, Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, which was a significant innovation for its electrical non-conductivity and heat-resistant properties.
In the 1920s, French microbiologist Maurice Lemoigne discovered polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), the first bioplastic made from bacteria. However, his discovery was not pursued further for several decades due to the abundance and low cost of petroleum. In the 1930s, Henry Ford used bioplastics made from soy beans to manufacture car parts, but he stopped after World War II due to the widespread availability and affordability of synthetic plastics.
The 1970s saw a renewed interest in bioplastics due to the petroleum crisis and the discovery of a bacteria (Flavobacterium) that could break down nylon. In 1990, the company Novamont was founded and became a leader in bioplastic production with its MATER-BI family of biodegradable and compostable bioplastics. In 2010, the first bioplastics made from seaweed were invented, offering a significant advantage as seaweed does not require chemical pesticides, fertilizers, or land.
Despite these advancements, bioplastics still represent a small portion of global plastic output. However, with continued research, investment, and scrutiny of fossil-based plastics, bioplastics are gaining more traction in certain markets. Today, many companies and laboratories are actively researching and producing biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, driven by a growing public environmental conscience.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Sharon Barak, a chemical engineer from Israel, invented a new kind of plastic that biodegrades in water. She set out to create a product that would look, feel, and function like plastic but dissolve in water without causing harm to nature.
Biodegradable plastics are derived from renewable sources such as bacteria, plants, and biomass. They break down when placed in natural environments where microorganisms are actively present, such as in soil or water, or in controlled environments like composting facilities.
Polyhydroxy butyrate/hydroxy hexanoate (PHBH) can decompose in soil, water, and composting environments. Polybutylene succinate (PBS) decomposes in soil and composting conditions. Polylactic acid (PLA) requires a composting environment for degradation. In addition, a 16-year-old girl, Elif Bilgin, invented biodegradable plastic using only banana peels, and 17-year-old Angelina Arora invented biodegradable plastic made from prawn shells.
