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Image: Crushed plastic bottles against blue background; Copyright: stevanovicigor

Enzyme that breaks down PET plastic: Leipzig scientists increase efficiency

18/05/2023

A research team at the University of Leipzig has further improved the functioning of an enzyme that can degrade PET plastic. Through computer simulations and experiments, they were able to rationally improve the enzyme and are now working on developing the third generation of the enzyme.
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Image: Sun on springtime forest floor; Copyright: Kajan81

Chemists redesign biological PHAs, 'dream' biodegradable plastics

11/05/2023

Colorado State University polymer chemists have created a synthetic Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) platform. These newly designed PHAs are mechanically tough, even outperforming the two most common commodity plastics. Among other things, this is intended to address the thermal instability of conventional PHAs and is a major step toward sustainability.
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Image: Numerous, predominantly white, plastic packages for household chemicals and detergents; Copyright: evgrafovasa

Better recycling of plastic packaging: New process extracts fragrances

04/05/2023

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute have developed an environmentally friendly process to remove fragrances from plastic packaging. The process is based on pressurized water extraction and removes the fragrance limonene from HDPE packaging. By evaluating the data using machine learning methods, it was possible to optimize the extraction parameters.
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Image: Erlenmeyer flask filled with water polluted by microplastics in a laboratory; Copyright: microgen

First comparative study on automated analysis methods of large data sets in microplastics research

27/04/2023

The lack of standardized analytical procedures for microplastic data has led to significant deviations, especially for small particles with high hazard potential. Researchers from the University of Bayreuth and the Alfred Wegener Institute have compared two automated analysis procedures and called for standardization to improve the comparability of data.
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Image: sun and clouds in the sky; Copyright: joaquincorbalan

Solar-powered system converts plastic and greenhouse gases into sustainable fuels

13/04/2023

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a system that can convert plastic waste and greenhouse gases into sustainable fuels and other valuable products – using energy from the sun alone. In the system, two waste streams are simultaneously converted into two chemical products.
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Image: Pressed plastic bales in the modern hazardous waste processing plant; Copyright: hiv360

A wholly sustainable plastics economy is feasible

13/04/2023

In a study under the leadership of the ETH Zurich, the scientists point out that plastic products must be better aligned with the circular economy in future. The study finds that circular plastics are feasible within planetary boundaries. This would require at least 74 percent of the plastic to be recycled.
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Image: stack of logs; Copyright: mstandret

Researchers use light to convert abundant lignin into plastic that can be continually recycled

05/04/2023

Boston College chemists have developed an approach that uses light to transform lignin into sustainable plastics. The findings advance a potential strategy for the waste-free system of polymer manufacture and re-use known as the circular plastic economy.
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Image: Worker spraying polyurethane foam to insulate a wooden frame house; Copyright: anatoliy_gleb

Degradation of Plastic Waste using newly Developed Biocatalysts

13/03/2023

A research team from the University of Greifswald, together with scientists from Covestro AG, has identified enzymes capable of degrading polyurethanes and polyvinyl alcohol. The research helps to establish a sustainable and environmentally-friendly process to recycle these polymers.
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Image: map with colourful pins; Copyright: LightFieldStudios

Automated simulation software creates a world map of polymer properties

14/02/2023

"Materials informatics (MI), a new branch of materials research that combines materials data with data science, is gaining traction," said co-corresponding author Yoshihiro Hayashi, assistant professor, Institute of Statistical Mathematics in the Research Organization of Information and Science (ROIS).
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Image: Granules and filaments made of plastic; Copyright: Fraunhofer WKI | Manuela Lingnau

Bio-based flame retardants for bioplastics in electrical engineering and electronics

06/02/2023

Fraunhofer researchers, in collab with industrial partners, have achieved initial success in the development of bio-based flame retardants in bioplastics. In the future, it could therefore be possible to utilize plastics in electronics and electrical engineering that consist of 100% bio-based materials. Processing was tested by means of compounding, injection molding and additive manufacturing.
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