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Chemists Sweeten Plastics For Faster Diodegradation
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."
Cut plastics out of packaging. Stop making disposeable products.
Is this biodegradeable plastic research really another attempt at planned obsolesence?
134340: I am not a number. I am a free planet!
Does the plastic *TASTE* sweet? If so, this might be a problem for use as utensils. Some foods don't go well with sugar.
Tim
Omnia vestra castrorum habetur nobis.
SO, lets make these plastics break down faster.. hmm good idea.
Now we have lots of tiny microscopic bits of plastic floating around everywhere. Free for all to ingest in the water or air they breath. When all's said and done, I'd rather have an evian bottle laying on the sidewalk than floating in the air I'm breathing.
What's the 1/2 life of the plastic molecules themselves? How toxic are they?
What about the plasticizers (sp?) in the plastic. I believe they're some of the more carciogenic chemicals we've come up with.
This sounds like a 2 edged sword moving in the wrong direction. Have I missed something?
i hope you were kidding.
we have different kinds of plastics for different applications. some are well suited for heat, others for flexibility. well, now we will have one that mcdonalds can use and claim to be helping the environment. don't worry your little american schitzo-from-the-doomsaying-tv brain, we won't have a rash of sprinkler systems degrading because the construction company bought 'biodegradable' plastic.
i say use a mug
fear is the mind killer