It could potentially be a revolution for the planet. Japanese researchers have developed a new material that dissolves in saltwater, opening up a new horizon in the fight against ocean pollution caused by microplastics.
Every minute, the equivalent of a garbage truck full of plastic waste is dumped into the world’s oceans. This results in an additional 10 million tons of plastic entering the sea every year. Each of these pieces of waste will take 500 years to decompose. These soda bottles, shopping bags, and food packaging also end up in fields or massive landfills.
As the UN committee convenes on Monday, November 25, in Busan, South Korea, aiming to secure an agreement among 175 countries on a strong resolution against global plastic pollution, Japanese researchers have created a plastic that can dissolve in saltwater and even in nature. This groundbreaking plastic has been under development for years by researchers at the Riken Center for Emerging Materials, including Professor Takuzo Aida. They published their findings in the specialized journal Science on Wednesday, November 21.
A decomposition within 10 days in the soil
They have developed a « supramolecular plastic » that is biodegradable. It can almost melt in saltwater, such as seawater. It can also decompose within ten days in the soil. Even better, as it disappears, it can enrich the soil with nitrogen and phosphorus.
This plastic is not made like traditional plastics from petroleum derivatives. Instead, it combines biodegradable monomers, including a very common food additive called sodium hexametaphosphate. The bonds between these different molecules can be broken when exposed to saltwater, allowing them to dissolve easily without leaving behind polluting microplastics.
The Japanese researchers have not yet pitched their recipe to the major plastic manufacturers, so it is still unclear whether this new material is as versatile as conventional plastic. However, the scientists claim that their solution already works perfectly for many applications. Their material can be melted at 120°C to take on various forms, such as plastic bottles, food packaging, and even more solid materials, similar to rubber. For the researchers, the possibilities are nearly endless.
Source: francetvinfo
