Researchers just created a biodegradable plastic using bacteria spores and thermoplastic polyurethane that could even benefit plants.
, University of San Diego researchers created a biodegradable plastic from bacterial spores and thermoplastic polyurethane pellets.Everything seems to be made with plastic these days. Most recycled plastic goes into clothes, even. And engineers might have just figured out a better option.
“We took a few strains and evaluated their ability to use TPUs as a sole carbon source, then picked the one that grew the best,” he added.The researchers fed the bacterial spores and plastic pellets into a plastic extruder and mixed them at a temperature of 135 degrees Celsius. They then made plastic strips as is normally done.
After repeating the process over and over again, they successfully bioengineered the perfect strain of these bacterial spores. “It’s amazing how well this process of bacterial evolution and selection worked for this purpose,” study co-senior author Adam Feist said.These bacterial spores ‘wake up’ in composting environments
“What’s remarkable is that our material breaks down even without the presence of additional microbes,” Pokorski said. “Chances are, most of these plastics will likely not end up in microbially rich composting facilities. So this ability to self-degrade in a microbe-free environment makes our technology more versatile.”strain of bacteria
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