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Chemists Sweeten Plastics For Faster Diodegradation

Posted by timothy on from the sweet-toothed-revenge dept.

Makarand writes "Nature has an online article describing attempts of chemists to create tweaked versions polythene, polystyrene and polypropylene that would rapidly biodegrade in a landfill in the presence of soil bacteria. Their technique adds sugars to the polymer chains, like pendants on a necklace, sweetening them in the process and making them palatable to soil bacteria. Less than 3% of the final plastic would be sugar. However, soil bacteria open the chains when they feed on the sugar kicking off the decay process."

5 of 50 comments (clear)

  1. word play by tswinzig · · Score: 4, Funny

    Diodegredation. When god is disgraced?

    Nah...

    Diodegration. When something decomposes due to the work of God?

    Nah...

    Biodegration. When something decomposes due to the work of biological agents.

    BINGO!

    --

    "And like that ... he's gone."
    1. Re:word play by AJWM · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, no, read the word again.

      It is as spelled: diodegradation -- the process of grading a collection of diodes, e.g. sorting them according to quality.

      Although I'm not sure what that has to do with rottable plastic...

      --
      -- Alastair
  2. Ants & other assorted insects by Spuffin · · Score: 4, Funny

    I thought it was bad enough that insects try to eat your food if you leave it out on the counter, now they're going to eat the containers too.

  3. Sweet Cables by droyad · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wouldn't this create a bigger problem with vermin chewing on cables because they already taste good?

    1. Re:Sweet Cables by budalite · · Score: 3, Funny

      My cats already try to chew up every plastic thing and all our computer cables as it is. It is a startling site to see the cat munching on a power cable. If I every smell smoked kitty, I'll know the cause. :})||