Plastic waste is one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time. Billions of tons of plastic accumulate on land, pollute our oceans, and break down into microplastics, infiltrating ecosystems, water sources, and even the human bloodstream. The growing crisis is compounded by the fact that most plastics are made from durable polymers that resist biodegradation, with biodegradable alternatives accounting for less than 20% of total production. While the processes to break down these plastics remain cumbersome, new advancements are on the horizon.
In a groundbreaking study published in ACS Nano, researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science have developed a novel biodegradable composite plastic that can degrade easily using bacteria. This new material, which combines a biodegradable polymer with biological crystals, is not only environmentally friendly but also cheap, easy to produce, and exceptionally strong. The research was led by Dr. Angelica Niazov-Elkan, Dr. Haim Weissman, and Professor Boris Rybtchinski, alongside the late Dr. Eyal Shimoni, Dr. XiaoMeng Sui, Dr. Yishay Feldman, and Professor H. Daniel Wagner.
Continue reading… “Revolutionary Composite Plastic Degrades with Bacteria, Offering a Sustainable Solution to Plastic Pollution”
