Researchers%20are%20using%20bacteria%20that%20eat%20food%20scraps%20to%20create%20a%20new%20kind%20of%20fully%20biodegradable%20plastic%20that%20reduces%20waste%20and%20could%20be%20less%20expensive%20to%20manufacture%20than%20current%20plastics%20are.%20%0A%20%0AThe%20team%20from%20the%20University%20of%20Waterloo%20says%20this%20new%20method%20produces%20plastics%20that%20are%20soft%20and%20flexible%2C%20leading%20to%20many%20potential%20applications%20such%20as%20food%20wrap%2C%20drug%20delivery%20and%20in%20the%20repair%20of%20damaged%20tissues%20and%20organs.%20%0A%20%0AThe%20study%2C%20%22Production%20and%20Characterization%20of%20Biopolymer%20from%20Food%20Waste%20Using%20Pseudomonas%20putida%2C%22%20was%20recently%20published%20in%20ACS%20ES%26T%20Engineering.%20%0A%20%0A%22Using%20food%20waste%20as%20food%20for%20bacteria%20which%20can%20produce%20bioplastics%20is%20a%20very%20exciting%20development%2C%22%20said%20Dr.%20Trevor%20Charles%2C%20a%20professor%20in%20the%20Department%20of%20Biology%20at%20Waterloo%2C%20and%20one%20of%20the%20authors%20of%20the%20study.%20%22This%20approach%20is%20significant%20because%20it%20has%20the%20possibility%20to%20reduce%20the%20cost%20of%20creating%20biopolymers.%22%20%0A%20%0APHAs%2C%20the%20type%20of%20plastic%20that%20these%20bacteria%20can%20produce%2C%20are%20ecofriendly%20because%20they%20degrade%20naturally%20into%20benign%20byproducts%20in%20garden%20composts%2C%20agricultural%20fields%2C%20fresh%20or%20seawater%20and%20don't%20leave%20harmful%20plastic%20pollution%20or%20chemical%20residues%20behind.%20The%20research%20team%20is%20now%20trying%20to%20work%20out%20how%20to%20make%20these%20plastics%20in%20a%20cost-effective%20way.%20%0A%20%0A%22Currently%2C%20the%20process%20of%20breaking%20open%20the%20bacterial%20cells%20and%20recovering%20the%20polymer%20is%20costly.%20The%20team%20is%20working%20to%20develop%20an%20efficient%20and%20cost-effective%20extraction%20method%20that%20would%20make%20the%20overall%20production%20process%20more%20viable%20for%20large-scale%20commercialization%2C%22%20said%20Dr.%20Tizazu%20Mekonnen%2C%20a%20professor%20in%20the%20Department%20of%20Chemical%20Engineering%20and%20an%20author%20of%20the%20study.%20%0A%20%0A%22This%20research%20not%20only%20offers%20a%20pathway%20to%20reducing%20the%20environmental%20impact%20of%20plastic%20waste%2C%20it%20also%20supports%20a%20circular%20economy%20by%20turning%20food%20waste%20into%20a%20valuable%20resource.%22%20%0A%20%0AThe%20next%20steps%20in%20this%20research%20involve%20optimizing%20and%20scaling%20up%20the%20extraction%20process%20for%20the%20biopolymer.

Turning food waste into biodegradable plastic

Currently%2C%20the%20world%20is%20suffering%20from%20environmental%20problems%20caused%20by%20plastic%20waste.%20A%20KAIST%20research%20team%20has%20succeeded%20in%20producing%20a%20microbial-based%20plastic%20that%20is%20biodegradable%20and%20can%20replace%20existing%20PET%20bottles.%0A%0AA%20research%20team%20led%20by%20Distinguished%20Professor%20Sang%20Yup%20Lee%20of%20the%20Department%20of%20Chemical%20and%20Biomolecular%20Engineering%20has%20succeeded%20in%20developing%20a%20microbial%20strain%20that%20efficiently%20produces%20a%20pseudoaromatic%20polyester%20monomer%20to%20replace%20polyethylene%20terephthalate%20(PET)%20using%20systems%20metabolic%20engineering.%20%0A%20%0AThe%20research%20is%20published%20in%20the%20Proceedings%20of%20the%20National%20Academy%20of%20Sciences.%20%0A%20%0APseudoaromatic%20dicarboxylic%20acids%20have%20better%20physical%20properties%20and%20higher%20biodegradability%20than%20aromatic%20polyester%20(PET)%20when%20synthesized%20as%20polymers%2C%20and%20are%20attracting%20attention%20as%20an%20eco-friendly%20monomer%20that%20can%20be%20synthesized%20into%20polymers.%20The%20production%20of%20pseudoaromatic%20dicarboxylic%20acids%20through%20chemical%20methods%20suffers%20from%20low%20yield%20and%20selectivity%2C%20complex%20reaction%20conditions%2C%20and%20the%20generation%20of%20hazardous%20waste.%20%0A%20%0ATo%20solve%20this%20problem%2C%20Professor%20Sang%20Yup%20Lee's%20research%20team%20used%20metabolic%20engineering%20to%20develop%20a%20microbial%20strain%20that%20efficiently%20produces%20five%20types%20of%20pseudoaromatic%20dicarboxylic%20acids%2C%20including%202-pyrone-4%2C6-dicarboxylic%20acid%20and%20four%20types%20of%20pyridine%20dicarboxylic%20acids%20(2%2C3-%2C%202%2C4-%2C%202%2C5-%2C%202%2C6-pyridine%20dicarboxylic%20acids)%2C%20in%20Corynebacterium%2C%20a%20bacterium%20mainly%20used%20for%20amino%20acid%20production.%20%0A%20%0AThe%20research%20team%20used%20metabolic%20engineering%20techniques%20to%20build%20a%20platform%20microbial%20strain%20that%20enhances%20the%20metabolic%20flow%20of%20protocatechuic%20acid%2C%20which%20is%20used%20as%20a%20precursor%20for%20several%20pseudoaromatic%20dicarboxylic%20acids%2C%20and%20prevents%20the%20loss%20of%20precursors.%0A%0ABased%20on%20this%2C%20the%20genetic%20manipulation%20target%20was%20discovered%20through%20transcriptome%20analysis%2C%20producing%2076.17%20g%2FL%20of%202-pyrone-4%2C6-dicarboxylic%20acid%2C%20and%20by%20newly%20discovering%20and%20constructing%20three%20types%20of%20pyridine%20dicarboxylic%20acid%20production%20metabolic%20pathways%2C%20successfully%20producing%202.79%20g%2FL%20of%202%2C3-pyridine%20dicarboxylic%20acid%2C%200.49%20g%2FL%20of%202%2C4-pyridine%20dicarboxylic%20acid%2C%20and%201.42%20g%2FL%20of%202%2C5-pyridine%20dicarboxylic%20acid.%20%0A%20%0AIn%20addition%2C%20the%20research%20team%20confirmed%20the%20production%20of%2015.01%20g%2FL%20through%20the%20construction%20and%20reinforcement%20of%20the%202%2C6-pyridine%20dicarboxylic%20acid%20biosynthesis%20pathway%2C%20successfully%20producing%20a%20total%20of%20five%20similar%20aromatic%20dicarboxylic%20acids%20with%20high%20efficiency.%20%0A%20%0AIn%20conclusion%2C%20the%20team%20succeeded%20in%20producing%202%2C4-%2C%202%2C5-%2C%20and%202%2C6-pyridine%20dicarboxylic%20acids%20at%20the%20world's%20highest%20concentration.%20In%20particular%2C%202%2C4-%2C%202%2C5-pyridine%20dicarboxylic%20acid%20achieved%20production%20on%20the%20scale%20of%20g%2FL%2C%20which%20was%20previously%20produced%20in%20extremely%20small%20amounts%20(mg%2FL).%20%0A%20%0AIt%20is%20expected%20that%20the%20research%20will%20be%20applied%20to%20various%20polyester%20production%20industrial%20processes%2C%20and%20it%20is%20also%20expected%20that%20it%20will%20be%20actively%20utilized%20in%20research%20on%20the%20production%20of%20similar%20aromatic%20polyesters.%20%0A%20%0AProfessor%20Sang%20Yup%20Lee%2C%20the%20corresponding%20author%2C%20said%2C%20%22The%20significance%20lies%20in%20the%20fact%20that%20we%20have%20developed%20an%20eco-friendly%20technology%20that%20efficiently%20produces%20similar%20aromatic%20polyester%20monomers%20based%20on%20microorganisms%2C%22%20and%20%22This%20study%20will%20help%20the%20microorganism-based%20bio-monomer%20industry%20replace%20the%20petrochemical-based%20chemical%20industry%20in%20the%20future.%22

Microbial plastic offers PET bottle alternative

Researchers%20have%20been%20investigating%20the%20biodegradation%20of%20plastics%20in%20the%20ocean%20for%20years%2C%20seeking%20to%20uncover%20which%20types%20break%20down%20the%20fastest.%20As%20millions%20of%20tons%20of%20plastic%20continue%20to%20enter%20our%20oceans%20each%20year%2C%20understanding%20the%20biodegradability%20of%20different%20plastics%20has%20become%20critical.%0A%0AA%20new%20discovery%20by%20scientists%20from%20Woods%20Hole%20Oceanographic%20Institution%20(WHOI)%20could%20be%20a%20game%20changer%20in%20the%20battle%20against%20ocean%20plastic%20pollution.%0A%0AThey%20have%20found%20that%20cellulose%20diacetate%20(CDA)%2C%20a%20bioplastic%20in%20use%20for%20over%20100%20years%2C%20degrades%20faster%20in%20marine%20environments%20than%20any%20other%20known%20plastic.%20Even%20more%20exciting%2C%20the%20team%20has%20figured%20out%20how%20to%20accelerate%20the%20process.%0A%0A%3Cb%3ECellulose%20diacetate%3A%20The%20fastest-degrading%20bioplastic%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%0ACDA%20is%20a%20bioplastic%20derived%20from%20cellulose%2C%20a%20natural%20polymer%20found%20in%20plant%20cell%20walls%2C%20most%20notably%20in%20cotton%20and%20wood%20pulp.%20Since%20its%20development%20in%20the%20late%201800s%2C%20CDA%20has%20found%20its%20way%20into%20a%20wide%20range%20of%20products%2C%20from%20sunglasses%20and%20cigarette%20filters%20to%20photography%20film.%20It%E2%80%99s%20a%20versatile%20material%20that%20we%20encounter%20in%20our%20daily%20lives%20without%20even%20realizing%20it.%0A%0AAccording%20to%20WHOI%20researchers%2C%20CDA%20is%20the%20fastest-degrading%20plastic%20in%20seawater%20when%20compared%20to%20other%20bioplastics.%20By%20introducing%20a%20modification%20process%20called%20%E2%80%9Cfoaming%2C%E2%80%9D%20where%20the%20material%20is%20made%20porous%2C%20CDA%20can%20degrade%20up%20to%2015%20times%20faster%20than%20its%20solid%20form.%20In%20fact%2C%20foamed%20CDA%20even%20degrades%20faster%20than%20paper%2C%20which%20is%20often%20considered%20one%20of%20the%20most%20eco-friendly%20materials.%0A%0ACollin%20Ward%2C%20a%20senior%20author%20of%20the%20study%2C%20emphasized%20the%20significance%20of%20the%20findings%2C%20%E2%80%9CWe%20translated%20the%20foundational%20knowledge%20into%20the%20design%20of%20a%20new%20material%20that%20simultaneously%20meets%20consumer%20needs%20and%20degrades%20in%20the%20ocean%20faster%20than%20any%20other%20plastic%20material%20we%20know%20of%2C%20even%20faster%20than%20paper.%E2%80%9D%0A%0A%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s%20a%20great%20success%20story%20in%20a%20field%20that%20often%20focuses%20on%20the%20negative%20aspects%20of%20plastic%20pollution%20rather%20than%20working%20towards%20solutions%20to%20the%20problem%2C%E2%80%9D%20Ward%20added%20in%20the%20press%20release.%0A%0AThe%20research%20team%20conducted%20a%2036-week%20test%20where%20CDA%20foam%20was%20placed%20in%20tanks%20filled%20with%20continually%20flowing%20seawater.%20The%20results%20were%20striking%E2%80%9465-70%25%20of%20the%20material%E2%80%99s%20original%20mass%20was%20lost%2C%20indicating%20rapid%20biodegradation.%20%0A%0AIn%20contrast%2C%20common%20plastics%20like%20Styrofoam%20showed%20no%20degradation%20at%20all%20during%20the%20same%20period.%20This%20demonstrates%20the%20potential%20of%20CDA%20foam%20to%20significantly%20reduce%20the%20long-lasting%20environmental%20impact%20of%20plastics%20in%20the%20ocean.%0A%0A%3Cb%3EFoamed%20CDA%3A%20A%20step%20toward%20a%20cleaner%20future%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%0AOne%20of%20the%20most%20promising%20aspects%20of%20this%20research%20is%20the%20potential%20for%20CDA%20to%20replace%20some%20of%20the%20most%20problematic%20plastics%20in%20our%20daily%20lives.%20For%20example%2C%20Ward%20and%20his%20colleagues%20at%20WHOI%20partnered%20with%20Eastman%2C%20a%20bioplastic%20manufacturing%20company%2C%20to%20explore%20the%20commercial%20applications%20of%20foamed%20CDA.%0A%0AEastman%20has%20already%20launched%20a%20biodegradable%20and%20compostable%20tray%20made%20from%20foamed%20CDA%20as%20an%20alternative%20to%20Styrofoam%20meat%20trays%2C%20which%20do%20not%20degrade%20under%20any%20natural%20conditions%2C%20whether%20on%20land%20or%20in%20water.%0A%0AThe%20study%E2%80%99s%20findings%20could%20help%20steer%20industries%20away%20from%20traditional%20plastics%20and%20toward%20more%20eco-friendly%20alternatives.%20The%20success%20of%20foamed%20CDA%20suggests%20that%20this%20material%20could%20be%20used%20in%20a%20wide%20range%20of%20products%2C%20reducing%20the%20amount%20of%20persistent%20plastic%20waste%20in%20the%20ocean.%0A%0AWard%E2%80%99s%20team%20carried%20out%20the%20study%20in%20a%20controlled%20laboratory%20environment%20using%20seawater%20from%20Martha%E2%80%99s%20Vineyard%20Sound%20near%20Cape%20Cod%2C%20Massachusetts.%20By%20carefully%20regulating%20variables%20like%20light%2C%20temperature%2C%20and%20water%20flow%2C%20the%20researchers%20were%20able%20to%20simulate%20real-world%20ocean%20conditions.%20This%20approach%20provided%20them%20with%20a%20reliable%20indication%20of%20how%20CDA%20would%20perform%20in%20natural%20marine%20environments.%0A%0AEarlier%20this%20year%2C%20WHOI%20published%20the%20results%20of%20a%2016-week%20study%20that%20compared%20the%20degradation%20of%20various%20types%20of%20straws%20made%20from%20different%20materials%2C%20including%20CDA%2C%20polyhydroxyalkanoates%20(PHA)%2C%20polylactic%20acid%20(PLA)%2C%20polypropylene%20(PP)%2C%20and%20paper.%20%0A%0AThe%20study%20revealed%20that%20PLA%20and%20PP%20straws%20showed%20no%20measurable%20degradation%2C%20while%20the%20others%20degraded%20by%20up%20to%2050%25.%20Foamed%20CDA%20straws%2C%20however%2C%20degraded%20190%25%20faster%20than%20solid%20CDA%20straws%2C%20further%20reinforcing%20the%20material%E2%80%99s%20potential%20as%20a%20superior%20biodegradable%20plastic.%0A%0A%3Cb%3EA%20future%20without%20plastic%20pollution%3F%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%0AThe%20implications%20of%20this%20research%20extend%20far%20beyond%20just%20CDA.%20As%20plastics%20continue%20to%20be%20a%20major%20source%20of%20pollution%20in%20marine%20environments%2C%20finding%20faster-degrading%20alternatives%20like%20foamed%20CDA%20could%20help%20mitigate%20the%20damage.%20%20%0A%0AThe%20discovery%20that%20foamed%20CDA%20degrades%20even%20faster%20than%20paper%20could%20revolutionize%20the%20way%20we%20approach%20packaging%2C%20manufacturing%2C%20and%20everyday%20items%0A%0AEastman%E2%80%99s%20new%20biodegradable%20tray%20made%20from%20foamed%20CDA%20is%20just%20the%20beginning.%20With%20further%20research%20and%20development%2C%20foamed%20CDA%20and%20similar%20bioplastics%20could%20replace%20harmful%20plastics%20in%20a%20wide%20range%20of%20applications.%20This%20would%20not%20only%20reduce%20the%20environmental%20impact%20of%20plastic%20waste%20but%20also%20move%20us%20closer%20to%20a%20future%20where%20our%20oceans%20are%20no%20longer%20choked%20with%20persistent%20plastics.%0A%0AThe%20findings%20of%20the%20research%20have%20been%20published%20in%20ACS%20Sustainable%20Chemistry%20%26%20Engineering.%0A%0A

Innovative plastic degrades 15 x faster than paper

In%20a%20groundbreaking%20effort%20to%20tackle%20the%20global%20plastic%20waste%20crisis%2C%20Australia%E2%80%99s%20national%20science%20agency%20CSIRO%20and%20Murdoch%20University%20have%20launched%20the%20Bioplastics%20Innovation%20Hub.%0A%20%0AThe%20%248m%20initiative%20aims%20to%20develop%20100%25%20compostable%20plastic%2C%20offering%20a%20sustainable%20solution%20to%20plastic%20pollution.%20%0A%20%0AThis%20collaboration%20brings%20together%20industry%20leaders%2C%20researchers%2C%20and%20innovators%20to%20accelerate%20the%20development%20and%20commercialisation%20of%20eco-friendly%20packaging%20solutions.%20%0A%20%0A%3Cb%3EA%20focus%20on%20compostable%20plastic%20solutions%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%20%0AThe%20Bioplastics%20Innovation%20Hub%E2%80%99s%20primary%20mission%20is%20to%20produce%20biologically%20derived%20plastics%20that%20can%20fully%20degrade%20in%20various%20environments%2C%20including%20compost%2C%20land%2C%20and%20water.%20%0A%20%0ADr%20Andy%20Whiteley%2C%20CSIRO%20Research%20Program%20Director%2C%20emphasised%20that%20the%20Hub%20will%20harness%20expertise%20from%20diverse%20fields%20such%20as%20microbiology%2C%20molecular%20genetics%2C%20and%20biochemical%20engineering%20to%20translate%20cutting-edge%20bioplastics%20research%20into%20practical%2C%20real-world%20applications.%20%0A%20%0A%E2%80%9COur%20primary%20focus%20is%20the%20development%20of%20100%25%20compostable%2C%20bio-derived%20packaging%20for%20use%20as%20sprays%2C%20films%2C%20bottles%2C%20caps%20and%20wrappers%2C%20which%20are%20engineered%20to%20fully%20break%20down%20in%20compost%2C%20land%20and%20aquatic%20environments%2C%E2%80%9D%20explained%20Dr%20Whiteley.%20%0A%20%0AAs%20global%20demand%20for%20eco-friendly%20alternatives%20increases%2C%20the%20initiative%20aims%20to%20equip%20the%20plastics%20industry%20with%20the%20tools%20to%20drive%20the%20shift%20towards%20compostable%20plastic.%20%0A%20%0A%3Cb%3EPartnering%20for%20sustainable%20water%20bottles%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%20%0AOne%20of%20the%20first%20major%20projects%20for%20the%20Hub%20is%20a%20collaboration%20with%20Ecopha%20Biotech%2C%20a%20Western%20Australian%20biotechnology%20company.%20%0A%20%0ATogether%2C%20they%20are%20working%20on%20an%20innovative%20process%20to%20manufacture%20compostable%20plastic%20water%20bottles%20from%20waste%20products%20in%20the%20food%20industry.%0A%0AThis%20project%20aims%20to%20introduce%20compostable%20plastic%20bottles%20to%20the%20market%2C%20offering%20an%20alternative%20to%20traditional%2C%20non-biodegradable%20plastic%20bottles%20that%20contribute%20significantly%20to%20environmental%20pollution.%20%0A%20%0ADr%20Wilson%20Ling%2C%20CEO%20of%20Ecopha%20Biotech%2C%20said%3A%20%E2%80%9CThrough%20the%20Bioplastics%20Innovation%20Hub%2C%20we%20are%20focused%20on%20developing%20bioplastics%20that%20will%20help%20address%20the%20plastic%20waste%20problem%20both%20in%20Australia%20and%20globally.%E2%80%9D%20%0A%20%0A%3Cb%3EReducing%20plastic%20waste%20by%2080%25%20by%202030%3C%2Fb%3E%0A%20%0AThe%20initiative%20aligns%20with%20CSIRO%E2%80%99s%20ambitious%20goal%20of%20reducing%20plastic%20waste%20in%20Australia%20by%2080%25%20by%202030.%20%0A%20%0AThis%20effort%20supports%20both%20Australia%E2%80%99s%20National%20Plastics%20Plan%20and%20the%20United%20Nations%20Global%20Treaty%20on%20Plastic%20Pollution%2C%20which%20seeks%20to%20tackle%20the%20growing%20environmental%20threat%20posed%20by%20plastic%20waste.%20%0A%20%0AMurdoch%20University%E2%80%99s%20Deputy%20Vice-Chancellor%20of%20Research%20and%20Innovation%2C%20Professor%20Peter%20Eastwood%2C%20highlighted%20the%20need%20for%20innovative%20technological%20solutions%20to%20combat%20the%20plastic%20waste%20crisis.%20%0A%20%0AHe%20said%3A%20%E2%80%9CTogether%20with%20CSIRO%2C%20Murdoch%20University%20will%20fast-track%20the%20production%20of%20novel%20compostable%20bioplastic%20and%20introduce%20a%20green%20plastic%20to%20the%20market%2C%20which%20will%20significantly%20minimise%20the%20requirement%20for%20non-sustainable%20plastic%20production.%20%0A%20%0A%E2%80%9CWe%20also%20aim%20to%20assist%20industry%20in%20establishing%20an%20advanced%20biomanufacturing%20sector%20to%20commercialise%20compostable%20bioplastics%20that%20meet%20the%20manufacturing%20design%20needs%20and%20certification%20standards%20for%20100%25%20biodegradation.%20%0A%20%0A%E2%80%9CThe%20outcomes%20of%20this%20project%20will%20boost%20the%20capability%20of%20Australia%20for%20commercial%20production%20of%20compostable%20bioplastics.%20In%20particular%2C%20the%20Hub%20meets%20the%20sector%20priority%20of%20increasing%20technical%20leadership%20of%20Australian%20manufacturing.%E2%80%9D%20%0A%20%0AThe%20Bioplastics%20Innovation%20Hub%20represents%20a%20collaborative%20effort%20from%20government%20bodies%2C%20researchers%2C%20innovators%2C%20and%20industry%20leaders%20to%20build%20a%20more%20sustainable%20future.%20%0A%20%0AAs%20the%20world%20grapples%20with%20the%20devastating%20impact%20of%20plastic%20pollution%2C%20initiatives%20like%20these%20are%20a%20promising%20step%20towards%20creating%20a%20circular%20economy%20and%20significantly%20reducing%20environmental%20harm.%20%0A%20%0ABy%20focusing%20on%20compostable%20plastic%20solutions%2C%20the%20Bioplastics%20Innovation%20Hub%20aims%20to%20make%20a%20lasting%20impact%20on%20the%20fight%20against%20plastic%20pollution.

CSIRO hub launched to pioneer compostable plastic

A%20new%20type%20of%20bioplastic%20could%20help%20reduce%20the%20plastic%20industry's%20environmental%20footprint.%20Researchers%20led%20by%20the%20University%20of%20California%20San%20Diego%20have%20developed%20a%20biodegradable%20form%20of%20thermoplastic%20polyurethane%20(TPU)%2C%20a%20soft%20yet%20durable%20commercial%20plastic%20used%20in%20footwear%2C%20floor%20mats%2C%20cushions%20and%20memory%20foam.%20It%20is%20filled%20with%20bacterial%20spores%20that%2C%20when%20exposed%20to%20nutrients%20present%20in%20compost%2C%20germinate%20and%20break%20down%20the%20material%20at%20the%20end%20of%20its%20life%20cycle.%0A%0AThe%20work%20is%20detailed%20in%20a%20paper%20published%20on%20April%2030%20in%20Nature%20Communications.%0A%0AThe%20biodegradable%20TPU%20was%20made%20with%20bacterial%20spores%20from%20a%20strain%20of%20Bacillus%20subtilis%20that%20has%20the%20ability%20to%20break%20down%20plastic%20polymer%20materials.%0A%0A%22It's%20an%20inherent%20property%20of%20these%20bacteria%2C%22%20said%20study%20co-senior%20author%20Jon%20Pokorski%2C%20a%20nanoengineering%20professor%20at%20the%20UC%20San%20Diego%20Jacobs%20School%20of%20Engineering%20and%20co-lead%20of%20the%20university's%20Materials%20Research%20Science%20and%20Engineering%20Center%20(MRSEC).%20%22We%20took%20a%20few%20strains%20and%20evaluated%20their%20ability%20to%20use%20TPUs%20as%20a%20sole%20carbon%20source%2C%20then%20picked%20the%20one%20that%20grew%20the%20best.%22%0A%0AThe%20researchers%20used%20bacterial%20spores%2C%20a%20dormant%20form%20of%20bacteria%2C%20due%20to%20their%20resistance%20to%20harsh%20environmental%20conditions.%20Unlike%20fungal%20spores%2C%20which%20serve%20a%20reproductive%20role%2C%20bacterial%20spores%20have%20a%20protective%20protein%20shield%20that%20enables%20bacteria%20to%20survive%20while%20in%20a%20vegetative%20state.%0A%0ATo%20make%20the%20biodegradable%20plastic%2C%20the%20researchers%20fed%20Bacillus%20subtilis%20spores%20and%20TPU%20pellets%20into%20a%20plastic%20extruder.%20The%20ingredients%20were%20mixed%20and%20melted%20at%20135%20degrees%20Celsius%2C%20then%20extruded%20as%20thin%20strips%20of%20plastic.%0A%0ATo%20assess%20the%20material's%20biodegradability%2C%20the%20strips%20were%20placed%20in%20both%20microbially%20active%20and%20sterile%20compost%20environments.%20The%20compost%20setups%20were%20maintained%20at%2037%20degrees%20Celsius%20with%20a%20relative%20humidity%20ranging%20from%2044%20to%2055%25.%20Water%20and%20other%20nutrients%20in%20the%20compost%20triggered%20germination%20of%20the%20spores%20within%20the%20plastic%20strips%2C%20which%20reached%2090%25%20degradation%20within%20five%20months.%0A%0A%22What's%20remarkable%20is%20that%20our%20material%20breaks%20down%20even%20without%20the%20presence%20of%20additional%20microbes%2C%22%20said%20Pokorski.%20%22Chances%20are%2C%20most%20of%20these%20plastics%20will%20likely%20not%20end%20up%20in%20microbially%20rich%20composting%20facilities.%20So%20this%20ability%20to%20self-degrade%20in%20a%20microbe-free%20environment%20makes%20our%20technology%20more%20versatile.%22%0A%0AAlthough%20the%20researchers%20still%20need%20to%20study%20what%20gets%20left%20behind%20after%20the%20material%20degrades%2C%20they%20note%20that%20any%20lingering%20bacterial%20spores%20are%20likely%20harmless.%20Bacillus%20subtilis%20is%20a%20strain%20used%20in%20probiotics%20and%20is%20generally%20regarded%20as%20safe%20to%20humans%20and%20animals%E2%80%94it%20can%20even%20be%20beneficial%20to%20plant%20health.%0A%0AIn%20this%20study%2C%20the%20bacterial%20spores%20were%20evolutionary%20engineered%20to%20survive%20the%20high%20temperatures%20necessary%20for%20TPU%20production.%20The%20researchers%20used%20a%20technique%20called%20adaptive%20laboratory%20evolution%20to%20create%20a%20strain%20that%20is%20resilient%20to%20extrusion%20temperatures.%20The%20process%20involves%20growing%20the%20spores%2C%20subjecting%20them%20to%20extreme%20temperatures%20for%20escalating%20periods%20of%20time%2C%20and%20allowing%20them%20to%20naturally%20mutate.%20The%20strains%20that%20survive%20this%20process%20are%20then%20isolated%20and%20put%20through%20the%20cycle%20again.%0A%0A%22We%20continually%20evolved%20the%20cells%20over%20and%20over%20again%20until%20we%20arrived%20at%20a%20strain%20that%20is%20optimized%20to%20tolerate%20the%20heat%2C%22%20said%20study%20co-senior%20author%20Adam%20Feist%2C%20a%20bioengineering%20research%20scientist%20at%20the%20UC%20San%20Diego%20Jacobs%20School%20of%20Engineering.%20%22It's%20amazing%20how%20well%20this%20process%20of%20bacterial%20evolution%20and%20selection%20worked%20for%20this%20purpose.%22%0A%0AThe%20spores%20also%20serve%20as%20a%20strengthening%20filler%2C%20similar%20to%20how%20rebar%20reinforces%20concrete.%20The%20result%20is%20a%20TPU%20variant%20with%20enhanced%20mechanical%20properties%2C%20requiring%20more%20force%20to%20break%20and%20exhibiting%20greater%20stretchability.%0A%0A%22Both%20of%20these%20properties%20are%20greatly%20improved%20just%20by%20adding%20the%20spores%2C%22%20said%20Pokorski.%20%22This%20is%20great%20because%20the%20addition%20of%20spores%20pushes%20the%20mechanical%20properties%20beyond%20known%20limitations%20where%20there%20was%20previously%20a%20trade-off%20between%20tensile%20strength%20and%20stretchability.%22%0A%0AWhile%20the%20current%20study%20focused%20on%20producing%20smaller%20lab-scale%20quantities%20to%20understand%20feasibility%2C%20the%20researchers%20are%20working%20on%20optimizing%20the%20approach%20for%20use%20at%20an%20industrial%20scale.%20Ongoing%20efforts%20include%20scaling%20up%20production%20to%20kilogram%20quantities%2C%20evolving%20the%20bacteria%20to%20break%20down%20plastic%20materials%20faster%2C%20and%20exploring%20other%20types%20of%20plastics%20beyond%20TPU.%0A%0A%22There%20are%20many%20different%20kinds%20of%20commercial%20plastics%20that%20end%20up%20in%20the%20environment%E2%80%94TPU%20is%20just%20one%20of%20them%2C%22%20said%20Feist.%20%22One%20of%20our%20next%20steps%20is%20to%20broaden%20the%20scope%20of%20biodegradable%20materials%20we%20can%20make%20with%20this%20technology.%22

‘Living plastic’ can digest itself

A%20team%20of%20researchers%20has%20developed%20a%20system%20that%20uses%20carbon%20dioxide%2C%20CO2%2C%20to%20produce%20biodegradable%20plastics%2C%20or%20bioplastics%2C%20that%20could%20replace%20the%20nondegradable%20plastics%20used%20today.%20The%20research%20addresses%20two%20challenges%3A%20the%20accumulation%20of%20nondegradable%20plastics%20and%20the%20remediation%20of%20greenhouse%20gas%20emissions.%0A%0AThe%20research%20was%20a%20collaboration%20of%20Texas%20A%26M%20AgriLife%20researcher%20Susie%20Dai%2C%20associate%20professor%20in%20the%20Texas%20A%26M%20University%20Department%20of%20Plant%20Pathology%20and%20Microbiology%2C%20and%20Joshua%20Yuan%2C%20the%20Lucy%20%26%20Stanley%20Lopata%20Professor%20and%20chair%20of%20energy%2C%20environmental%20and%20chemical%20engineering%20at%20Washington%20University%20in%20St.%20Louis%E2%80%99%20McKelvey%20School%20of%20Engineering.%20Yuan%20was%20formerly%20with%20the%20Texas%20A%26M%20Department%20of%20Plant%20Pathology%20and%20Microbiology.%0A%0AThe%20researchers%20and%20their%20laboratory%20scientists%20worked%20for%20almost%20two%20years%20to%20develop%20an%20integrated%20system%20that%20uses%20CO2%20as%20a%20feedstock%20for%20bacteria%20to%20grow%20in%20a%20nutrient%20chamber%20solution%20and%20produce%20bioplastics.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThe%20technology%E2%80%99s%20benefits%20are%20multifaceted%2C%E2%80%9D%20Yuan%20said.%20%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20carbon%20negative%20and%20can%20certainly%20mitigate%20global%20climate%20change%20while%20at%20the%20same%20time%20producing%20degradable%20plastics%20that%20can%20replace%20nondegradable%20petrochemical%20plastics.%E2%80%9D%0A%0AThey%20team%E2%80%99s%20platform%20also%20has%20a%20much%20faster%20reaction%20rate%20than%20photosynthesis%2C%20which%20also%20captures%20CO2%2C%20and%20has%20a%20higher%20energy%20efficiency.%20And%20if%20the%20technology%20is%20successful%20enough%20to%20produce%20bioplastics%20at%20an%20economic%20scale%2C%20industries%20could%20replace%20traditional%20plastic%20products%20with%20ones%20that%20have%20fewer%20negative%20environmental%20impacts.%20In%20addition%2C%20mitigating%20CO2%20emissions%20from%20energy%20sectors%20such%20as%20gas%20and%20electric%20facilities%20would%20also%20be%20a%20benefit.%0A%0A%E2%80%9CThe%20key%20was%20to%20convert%20CO2%20to%20something%20that%20microbes%20can%20use%2C%E2%80%9D%20Yuan%20said.%20%E2%80%9CWe%20choose%20acetate%20and%20ethanol%20as%20the%20intermediates.%20These%20water-soluble%20molecules%20enabled%20rapid%20electron%2C%20energy%20and%20mass%20transfer%20and%20allowed%20the%20whole%20system%20to%20run%20fast.%E2%80%9D