South Korean scientists have “trained” Corynebacterium bacteria to create components of a biodegradable material that could be an alternative to traditional plastic. Research results It was published In Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
The main “producers” of the new material were genetically modified bacteria of the Corynebacterium species, which learned to synthesize pseudoaromatic dicarboxylic acids using metabolic engineering. These compounds formed the basis of environmentally friendly polyesters with unique properties. Polyesters are widely used in the plastic industry to make various products.
Laboratory tests showed that the new biomaterial is not inferior in physical properties to polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is used in the production of plastic containers, but at the same time it decomposes much faster in natural conditions.
Scientists stated that plastic pollution on the planet has reached catastrophic proportions, and more than eight million tons of plastic waste enters the oceans every year, damaging marine ecosystems. Microplastics are increasingly found in marine animals and even human tissue. Researchers hope the biodegradable material they created could be the key to solving a global environmental problem.
Previous scientists to create A new insect that can eat plastic waste.
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Source: Gazeta
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