Omar Khalid
The environmental impact of single-use plastics is a pressing issue, with millions of tonnes of plastic ending up in the sea each year, causing long-term damage to the environment and wildlife. Scientists have been working on developing an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plastic, and researchers in Japan have recently developed a type of plastic that fully dissolves in the ocean. This new plastic, made from polyurethane and polylactic-co-glycolic acid, can degrade in the soil within 10 days and turn into compounds similar to fertilizer. This innovative material offers a promising solution to the global plastic pollution crisis by providing a strong, stable, and recyclable alternative to traditional plastics that does not contribute to the microplastics problem. While there are still some challenges to be addressed, such as testing in fresh water and legal restrictions, dissolvable plastics hold great potential for a more sustainable future.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic dissolved in | Sea water |
| Plastic degradation time | Less than a month |
| Degradation by-products | Natural, non-toxic compounds |
| Use cases | Food packaging, drinking juice bottles, storage of plastic waste on ships |
| Benefits | Recyclable, does not generate microplastics, reduces plastic waste in the environment |
| Limitations | Not tested in freshwater, subject to international maritime laws |
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What You'll Learn
- Scientists develop a new type of plastic that dissolves in seawater
- The plastic degrades in the soil within 10 days
- The US Navy funds the research to address plastic waste on ships
- Dissolvable plastic as a solution to plastic waste in the sea
- The new plastic is made of polyurethane and polylactic-co-glycolic acid
Scientists develop a new type of plastic that dissolves in seawater
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. Every minute, the equivalent of a dump truck full of plastic pollutes our oceans. At this rate, scientists estimate there will be more pieces of plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050. To address this, researchers from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and the University of Tokyo have developed a new type of plastic that completely dissolves in seawater.
The new material, based on supramolecular chemistry, is made from ionic monomers forming salt bridges. These monomers are linked by reversible salt bonds, which provide strength and flexibility. The plastic can be modified to produce flexible, soft or hard plastic, making it customisable for different needs. For example, it can be made into hard scratch-resistant plastics, rubber silicone-like plastics, strong weight-bearing plastics, or low tensile flexible plastics.
The unique structure of the plastic allows it to maintain its strength during use while enabling rapid degradation when exposed to saline environments. When placed in seawater, the plastic starts to break down within hours, and it degrades into natural, non-toxic compounds in less than a month. This process of degradation by hydrolysis ensures that no microplastics are left behind, preventing microplastic pollution.
The researchers also found that when the plastic was placed in soil, it degraded in 10 days and supplied a chemical similar to fertiliser, which helps keep the soil healthy. This new plastic is expected to help reduce harmful microplastic pollution that accumulates in oceans and soil and eventually enters the food chain.
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The plastic degrades in the soil within 10 days
Plastic is a common part of life for many people. However, it is also a significant issue for nature and the environment. Each year, millions of tonnes of plastic end up in the sea, most of which is non-biodegradable and can persist in the environment for hundreds of years. As a result, scientists and manufacturers have been exploring environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional plastic.
Researchers at the RIKEN Centre for Emergent Matter Science in Japan have developed a biodegradable plastic that dissolves in seawater within hours and degrades in soil within days. Specifically, when placed in soil, the sheets of this new plastic degraded in 10 days and released a chemical similar to fertiliser, which helps maintain soil health. Led by Takuzo Aida, the researchers stated that this new material is strong, stable, recyclable, customisable, and importantly, does not generate microplastics.
This discovery could transform the way we address plastic waste and pollution, particularly in the ocean, where plastic waste has caused severe environmental damage and posed major threats to marine life. Unlike conventional plastics, this innovative material is non-toxic, made from food-safe components, and does not release carbon dioxide upon decomposition.
The new biodegradable plastic completely dissolves without leaving harmful residues, ensuring it does not contribute to the microplastic pollution problem. By fully dissolving, it protects both marine and terrestrial ecosystems and offers a sustainable solution for applications such as packaging and medical devices. This development in plastic technology provides a promising step towards mitigating the harmful ecological impact of plastic on the environment.
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The US Navy funds the research to address plastic waste on ships
The US Navy has been funding research into addressing plastic waste on ships. The Navy has long been concerned with shipboard pollution control and has been working towards reducing ship waste discharges. In 1994, the Navy had appropriations of $79.8 million to research, develop, procure, and operate shipboard solid waste processing equipment. A significant portion of this was allocated to a plastics processor, which cost $55,850.
The US Navy's funding of plastic waste research is closely tied to its compliance with international agreements on marine pollution, specifically MARPOL Annex V, which covers nonfood marine pollution solid waste. The Navy has been working to meet the requirements of not discharging plastic waste into the ocean and eliminating nonfood solid waste discharge by 2008 for submarines operating in Special Areas.
One of the key challenges the Navy faces in addressing plastic waste on ships is the limited storage space available. Plastic waste generated on a ship must be stored onboard until it reaches port, taking up valuable space. To address this issue, the Navy has explored various solutions, including incineration, compactors, and shredders. However, incineration of plastics at sea has been met with environmental objections and safety and health concerns.
Recently, the US Navy's funding of plastic waste research has led to a significant development: the creation of dissolvable plastic. Scientists at the University of Southern Mississippi have invented a line of plastics that dissolve in seawater. This innovative solution could revolutionize plastic waste management on ships, as it would eliminate the need for storing plastic waste onboard. The dissolvable plastic is made of polyurethane modified with polylactic-co-glycolic acid, a polymer used in surgical sutures. It degrades by hydrolysis into natural, non-toxic compounds within a month.
While this discovery holds great potential, there are still some considerations to be addressed. The plastic has not yet been tested in freshwater, and international maritime law currently prohibits the disposal of plastics at sea. However, with further research and adjustments to regulations, dissolvable plastic could provide a breakthrough solution to the problem of plastic waste on Navy ships.
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Dissolvable plastic as a solution to plastic waste in the sea
Plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats to ocean health, with an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic polluting the oceans. This is caused by low recycling rates, poor waste management, and high plastic production, with only 9% of plastic waste being recycled and 10 million tons dumped into the sea annually. As a result, plastic debris breaks down into microplastics, which are ingested by marine wildlife such as sea turtles and seabirds.
To address this issue, researchers have developed dissolvable plastics that can fully dissolve in seawater. This innovation, led by Takuzo Aida, involves using polyurethane modified with polylactic-co-glycolic acid, a polymer used in surgical sutures. The compound can be adjusted to create flexible, soft, or hard plastic. Dissolvable plastic offers a potential solution to the challenge of recycling used plastic products at sea, eliminating the need for sorting, shipping, or shredding.
The recyclable plastic developed by researchers can dissolve in seawater within a few hours due to the presence of mixed monomers. This discovery paves the way for the production of commercial ocean-degradable plastic objects, such as bottles and containers. The new plastics are also non-toxic and non-flammable, producing no carbon emissions. Additionally, they can be reshaped at high temperatures, similar to other thermoplastics.
The process of 'desalting' contributes to the durability of the material, and when placed in soil, it decomposes in about ten days, releasing nutrients found in fertilizers. This invention addresses the issue of traditional plastics, which often do not break down easily and contribute to pollution, particularly in the form of microplastics. While there are challenges, such as untested freshwater compatibility and legal restrictions on plastic disposal at sea, dissolvable plastic holds promise for reducing plastic waste in the ocean and its associated environmental impacts.
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The new plastic is made of polyurethane and polylactic-co-glycolic acid
While salt and juice are not known to dissolve plastic, scientists have been working on developing environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastic. Researchers in Japan have recently developed a version of plastic that fully dissolves in the ocean. Similarly, scientists at the University of Southern Mississippi have invented a line of plastics that are made of polyurethane and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), a polymer used in surgical sutures. This new plastic is modified with polylactic-co-glycolic acid, which is synthesized by means of ring-opening co-polymerization of two different monomers: glycolic acid and lactic acid.
PLGA is a copolymer that is used in a range of therapeutic devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. The biocompatibility of PLGA is determined by the products it degrades into and the rate of degradation. It degrades into non-toxic and non-reactive products, which makes it useful for medical and pharmaceutical applications. PLGA also has tunable mechanical properties, which allow it to be modified to produce flexible, soft, or hard plastic.
The compound undergoes hydrolysis in the body to produce the original monomers: lactic acid and glycolic acid. These monomers are by-products of various metabolic pathways in the body and are eliminated via carbon dioxide and water. PLGA has a high biocompatibility due to its composition, which includes lactic and glycolic acid fermentation from sugars, making it eco-friendly and less reactive in the body.
PLGA has been widely studied for its potential in developing devices for the controlled delivery of small molecule drugs, proteins, and other macromolecules. Its degradation can be employed for sustained drug release at desirable doses by implantation without surgical procedures. The overall physical properties of the polymer-drug matrix can be tuned by controlling parameters such as polymer molecular weight, the ratio of lactide to glycolide, and drug concentration.
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Frequently asked questions
No, but scientists are working on developing a version of plastic that will dissolve in the ocean.
Plastic that dissolves could help with the problem of plastic waste in the ocean and on land.
It's made of polyurethane that's been modified with polylactic-co-glycolic acid, a polymer used in surgical sutures.
It degrades in less than a month by hydrolysis into natural, non-toxic compounds.
In soil, the sheets of the new plastic degraded in 10 days and supplied a chemical similar to fertiliser, helping to keep soil healthy.
