In China, scientists have developed a durable plastic made from bamboo that decomposes in 50 days
Researchers from Northeast China Forestry University have developed a durable biodegradable plastic made from bamboo that has enhanced heat resistance and can also biodegrade in soil within 50 days.
As reported by Interesting Engineering, the new product paves the way for the creation of environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastic.
It is noted that scientists have developed a non-toxic method based on an alcohol solvent that allows them to dissolve bamboo cellulose to the molecular level, and then direct the cellulose molecules to reassemble and form a strong plastic. During the dissolution process, the cellulose is chemically modified, which promotes the formation of a strong molecular network during regeneration.
The bamboo plastic, as stated in the press release, was tested and compared with widely used commercial plastics (such as polylactic acid and high-impact polystyrene). According to the researchers, the widespread adoption of bamboo composite plastics is limited by their low mechanical properties, which makes them unsuitable for use in, for example, infrastructure industries.
The study, published in Nature Communications, is a molecular engineering strategy to produce high-strength bamboo molecular plastics through a molding (or shaping) process. The research team was able to obtain a bioplastic with exceptional mechanical strength and thermal stability.
"The BM-plastic outperforms most commercial plastics and bioplastics in mechanical and thermo-mechanical metrics while maintaining full biodegradability in soil within 50 days and closed-loop recyclability with 90% retained strength," the researchers noted.
The material is reported to be environmentally friendly and has the potential for industrial scaling. The biodegradable plastic production method could help transform bamboo cellulose into high-performance eco-materials.
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