Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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."

9 of 50 comments (clear)

  1. A cheaper solution by the_other_one · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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!
  2. 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
  3. Important part by TheOnlyCoolTim · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.
  4. 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.

  5. 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. :})||

  6. Re:Obviously... by gotih · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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
  7. Re:Plastics and, no, IN you by AJWM · · Score: 4, Informative

    Have I missed something?

    Apparently.

    It doesn't break down into smaller pieces of plastic (well, it does, but that's a first step). The polystyrene chain is broken into smaller units as the bacteria attack the linked sugars. Those smaller units can then be broken down directly by the bacteria.

    Most plastics are poly-hydrocarbons (although stuff like PVC and teflon throw chlorine or fluorine atoms into the mix). Depolymerize them and you get hydrocarbons, which all sorts of bacteria find yummy (depending on the specific hydrocarbon -- but styrene and ethylene both occur in nature (styrene in strawberries, coffee, etc, and ethylene is a chemical trigger produced by and recognized by fruits to hasten the ripening process.)

    --
    -- Alastair