We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Uniformly crosslinked algal bioplastic with triggerable decomposition in salt water
Summary
Researchers developed a uniformly crosslinked algal bioplastic designed to decompose on demand when exposed to salt water, presenting this material as a strategy to reduce marine plastic pollution and limit microplastic formation in ocean environments.
Developing more degradable plastics is key to reducing marine pollution and microplastic-related ecological harm.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Seawater‐Degradable Polymers: Seawater‐Degradable Polymers—Fighting the Marine Plastic Pollution (Adv. Sci. 1/2021)
This review examines polymers designed to degrade in seawater as a potential strategy to combat marine plastic pollution, covering material properties, degradation mechanisms, and the environmental context of marine microplastic impacts. Even seawater-degradable polymers require careful evaluation since the consequences of marine plastic pollution are still not fully understood.
Synthesis and Characterization of Bioplastic from Macroalgae Padina australis
Researchers produced bioplastic from the brown macroalgae Padina australis as an alternative to petroleum-based synthetic plastics, which are major environmental pollutants. The alginate-based bioplastic showed promising material properties, suggesting marine algae could be a sustainable raw material for reducing plastic waste.
Superior sequence-controlled poly(L-lactide)-based bioplastic with tunable seawater biodegradation
Scientists designed a new biodegradable plastic by combining PLA with polyethylene glycol in a controlled molecular structure that is both tough and breaks down quickly in seawater. The material achieved over 72% biodegradation in marine conditions within 28 days while remaining durable in regular freshwater, making it a promising candidate for reducing ocean plastic pollution.
Algal bioplastics: current market trends and technical aspects
Researchers reviewed the status and commercial potential of algal bioplastics as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics, finding that microalgae outperform plants and microbes for bioplastic feedstock due to their fast growth and wastewater remediation capacity, while cost remains a key barrier to scale-up.
Bioplastics in the Sea: Rapid In-Vitro Evaluation of Degradability and Persistence at Natural Temperatures
Researchers evaluated the marine degradability of multiple bioplastic materials at natural seawater temperatures, finding that most bioplastics persist in ocean environments rather than degrading quickly, challenging assumptions that bioplastics represent a straightforward solution to marine plastic pollution.