Scientists at King’s College London have developed a method. innovative solution to recycling bioplastics single use only such as those commonly used in disposable products such as coffee cups and food containers. Currently, ‘green’ plastics are often thrown into landfill after a short time because recycling systems are not fully effective.
New chemical recycling method published Cell Reports Physical Science, uses enzymes normally found in organic laundry detergents “Depolymerize” (or decompose) bioplastics destined for landfills.
By rapidly converting elements into soluble parts in just 24 hoursThe process ensures complete degradation of the bioplastic polylactic acid (PLA). The method is 84 times faster than the 12-week industrial composting process currently used to recycle bioplastic materials.
Therefore this discovery offers a widespread recycling solution for single-use PLA plasticsA team of chemists from King’s College discovered that bioplastics decompose into their chemical components within 24 hours and at 90°C. Once converted into monomers (individual molecules), the materials can be converted into the same quality plastic as before for reuse.
The ‘green’ plastic problem
Current plastic production rates exceed our ability to dispose of it sustainably. According to Environmental Action, it is estimated that More than 68 million tons of plastic on the planet will be abandoned to nature in 2023 alone.On land or at sea due to the lack of capacity to recycle everything.
What’s more, a recent OECD report predicts that the amount of plastic waste produced worldwide will almost triple by 2060, with about half ending up in landfills and the other going to landfills. Less than a fifth will be recycled.
While consumers consider bioplastics (derived from biological sources such as corn starch, cassava or sugar cane) to be a more sustainable option, Current bioplastic production methods are expensive and compete with agriculture. for land use.
Mechanical recycling methods are inefficient because they produce CO2 and cannot produce high quality reusable materials. These “green” plastics often end up in landfill after single usehas caused many retailers to revert to using oil and fossil-based materials.
A real alternative
The rate at which bioplastics break down using the new method discovered could revolutionize plastic production. An efficient, scalable and sustainable system for recycling single-use bioplastics.
“A significant advance in the recyclability of single-use bioplastics, the research opens up the opportunity for a sustainable circular economy that eliminates fossil-based plastic production and addresses the large amounts of plastic waste disposed of in landfills and natural environments,” note the researchers, authors of the discovery.
Alex Brogan, Professor of Chemistry at King’s College London, said: “The inspiration for this project came from a problem with the breakdown of bioplastics used in medical and surgical products in the body. We solved this problem and applied it to the recycling of a single substance.” -Use the bioplastics we use in our daily lives. “We did this using a common enzyme found in biological laundry detergent.”
Scientists are now expanding their research to improve the recycling of other commonly used and mass-produced plastics.Such as those used in disposable water bottles, plastic film and sheets, and clothing.
Susana Meza Huamán, a member of the team, said: “Our research marks the first step in the development of new technologies in waste management recycling of bioplastics with the same quality as virgin product. “Until now, this has been a big challenge in plastic recycling.”
“Although bioplastics are made from biological materials, not all of them are compostable and most existing recycling methods are inefficient. Our chemical method significantly accelerates the degradation of bioplastics, allowing them to be recycled and reused,” he added.
Reference work: DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2024.101783
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