Best Research:American Scientists Make Bioplastic From CO2
American Scientists Figured Out How To Make Bioplastic From CO2
American Scientists Figured Out How To Make Bioplastic From CO2
Researchers at the University of Texas have unveiled a system that makes bioplastics from carbon dioxide. We tell you what you need to know about it
What’s happening
A team of researchers from the University of Texas has developed a system that converts carbon dioxide into bioplastic with the help of bacteria.
The system consists of two blocks. First, in the process of electrocatalysis (changes in the rate of electrochemical reactions under the influence of electrodes), carbon dioxide is converted into ethanol and other two-carbon molecules.
In the second, bacteria consume ethanol and carbon molecules and produce bioplastics.
According to the author of the study and assistant professor of plant pathology and microbiology at the University of Texas, Susie Dai, the main advantage of the system developed by scientists is a higher reaction rate and energy efficiency compared to photosynthesis. It can also use carbon dioxide emitted by industries and thereby reduce the greenhouse effect.
In addition, the technology is scalable to an industrial scale due to the ability of bacteria to adapt to different conditions.
What Does It Mean
Bioplastic is plastic made not from fossil fuels like oil and gas, but from organic plant materials like corn and sugar cane. According to research firm Precedence Research, the global bioplastics market was worth $11.2 billion in 2021. It is expected to grow to $46.1 billion by 2030.
It is believed that due to their composition, bioplastics are completely biodegradable and therefore do not harm the environment. However, in 2010, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh found that the production of bioplastics leads to an increase in the number of pesticides used in crop production.
However, as noted by Precedence Research, the production of bioplastics requires 65% less energy than the production of conventional plastic and can potentially reduce carbon emissions by 30-70%.
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