Making Cleaner, Greener, Biodegradable Plastics From Waste Fish Parts
Polyurethanes, a type of plastic, are nearly everywhere — in shoes, clothes, refrigerators, and construction materials. But these highly versatile materials can have a major…
Plastic
Turning Wood Into Recyclable, Biodegradable Plastic
Plastics are one of the world’s largest polluters, taking hundreds of years to degrade in nature. A research team, led by YSE professor Yuan Yao…
Microplastics Turn Into “Hubs” for Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Pathogens
It’s estimated that an average-sized wastewater treatment plant serving roughly 400,000 residents will discharge up to 2,000,000 microplastic particles into the environment each day. Yet,…
New Catalyst Makes Styrene Manufacturing Cheaper and Greener
Chemical engineering researchers have developed a new catalyst that significantly increases yield in styrene manufacturing, while simultaneously reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions….
Microbiologists Modify Bacteria to Produce Climate-Neutral and Rapidly Degradable Bioplastics
Cyanobacteria Could Revolutionize the Plastic Industry Microbiologists at the University of Tübingen modify bacteria to produce climate-neutral and rapidly degradable bioplastics. Cyanobacteria produce plastic naturally…
Discovery of a New Molecule Advances Route to Chemically Recyclable Plastics
New polybutadiene molecule enchains in squares, a microstructure that enables it to depolymerize under certain conditions, advancing options for closed-loop recycling. As the planet’s burden…
Laundry Lint Can Cause Significant Tissue and DNA Damage Within Marine Mussels
Microscopic fibers created during the laundry cycle can cause damage to the gills, liver, and DNA of marine species, according to new research. Scientists at…
Plastic Pollution Is Everywhere: Research Reveals How It Travels
Plastic pollution is ubiquitous today, with microplastic particles from disposable goods found in natural environments throughout the globe, including Antarctica. But how those particles move…
Bacterial Strain Uncovered for Producing Bioplastics From Sewage Sludge and Wastewater
Salt-Tolerant Bacteria With an Appetite for Sludge Make Biodegradable Plastics Using a bacterial strain found in mangroves, Texas A&M researchers have uncovered a low-cost, sustainable…
Microplastics in Our Drinking Water – Significant Source of Microplastics in Human Diet
Emerging environmental contaminants, both chemicals, and particulates, have been a concern for risk scientists for many years. Methods for reducing health and environmental risks from…
Making Plastic More Recyclable Through Chemical and Biological Processes
From soda bottles to car bumpers to piping, electronics, and packaging, plastics have become a ubiquitous part of our lives. Advancements in materials have made…
New Recycling Process Could Cut Down on Millions of Tons of Plastic Waste
Multilayer plastic materials are ubiquitous in food and medical supply packaging, particularly since layering polymers can give those films specific properties, like heat resistance or…
Mount Everest: Microplastics in the Death Zone
Scientists have identified the highest recorded microplastics ever found on Earth — at an altitude of more than 8,000metres, close to the summit of Mount…
Tough New Bioinspired Material to Replace Petroleum-Based Plastics
Modern life relies closely on plastics, even though the petroleum-based production creates serious environmental challenges. The industry opts out to use sustainable materials due to…
Experts Warn: War on Plastic Is Distracting From More Urgent Threats to Environment
A team of leading environmental experts, spearheaded by the University of Nottingham, have warned that the current war on plastic is detracting from the bigger…
Mythbusting: 5 Common Misperceptions on the Environmental Impacts of Single-Use Plastics
Stand in the soda pop aisle at the supermarket, surrounded by rows of brightly colored plastic bottles and metal cans, and it’s easy to conclude…
New Research Finds Bioplastics Are Just As Toxic as Ordinary Plastics
Bioplastics may be not produced from oil, but that’s about the only benefit, researchers say. Conventional plastic is made from oil. The production of plastic…
Plastic-Eating Super-Enzyme “Cocktail” Offers New Hope for Plastic Waste Solution
The scientists who re-engineered the plastic-eating enzyme PETase have now created an enzyme ‘cocktail’ which can digest plastic up to six times faster. A second…