Researchers at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) focused on bacterial cellulose (BC), an organic substance derived from bacteria. BC surpasses plant cellulose in a number of essential elements. Its notable benefits consist of exceptional water-holding capacity, higher tensile strength, a distinctively soft texture, and a high fiber material.
Envision biting into a snack, enjoying its tasty taste– and then enjoying the wrapper as scrumptious and healthy as the food within. It might seem like a scene from a sci-fi motion picture, but it could quickly be reality. Researchers in China are promising to reinvent the packaging industry by developing an edible, transparent, and biodegradable material that combats the ever-growing issue of plastic waste.
Image credit: PxFuel.
BC can be synthesized through microbial fermentation, eliminating the requirement for tree or crop harvesting. “Its a more sustainable product option to plant cellulose,” Professor To Ngai, study author, stated in a declaration.
The production of plastics has actually nearly doubled because 2000, with no sign of decreasing. In fact, plastic contamination has actually been continuously and steadily increasing. Were likewise pretty bad at recycling plastic, too. About 80% of all freshly manufactured plastics either wind up in landfills or found their method into the environment. This has turned plastic waste into a huge environmental issue.
Alternatives to plastics
Ngai and his research study team found an innovative method to overcome these limitations. They introduced specific soy proteins into the structure and used a protective covering with remarkable oil resistance. In the end, the researchers developed durable, transparent, and edible composite product packaging utilizing BC as its base material.
By including soy protein into the structure and finishing it with an oil-resistant composite, the CUHK group effectively created an edible, transparent, and robust BC-based composite packaging. Credit: To Ngai.
Up next, the scientists are taking a look at how to widen the possible applications of modified BC films, increasing their adaptability. Specifically, they are working on a thermosetting adhesive capable of establishing robust bonds in between BC. This would facilitate the molding of BC into varied shapes when exposed to heat, they argue.
Previous studies have taken a look at the potential of BC, including its use in product packaging, smart films, and functionalized products. While they have actually demonstrated the capacity of BC as a replacement for single-use plastics, its extensive adoption has been limited by its level of sensitivity to wetness in the air, impacting its physical residential or commercial properties.
Ngai hopes that their brand-new research study will be a step in the ideal instructions to attend to the unnecessary use of single-use plastics, which can persist for hundreds of years. “This research functions as a pointer that natural raw materials may already possess the needed attributes to perform beyond the functions of plastic product packaging,” he stated.
“It doesnt require specific reaction conditions like chemical reactions, however rather a practical and easy method with blending and finish. This method uses an appealing service to the challenge of establishing sustainable and environmentally friendly product packaging materials that can replace single-use plastics on a big scale,” Ngai said.
The study found that this plastic alternative based upon bacterial cellulose might be totally degraded in one to two months. Unlike other bio-derived plastics, BC doesnt need specific commercial composting conditions to degrade. Its likewise totally edible, which makes it safe for all sea animals such as turtles that can consume it with no toxicity threats.
The study was published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.
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Scientists in China are promising to reinvent the packaging market by producing an edible, transparent, and eco-friendly material that fights the ever-growing issue of plastic waste.
The production of plastics has almost doubled since 2000, with no indication of slowing down. About 80% of all recently manufactured plastics either end up in land fills or discovered their way into the environment. The study discovered that this plastic alternative based on bacterial cellulose could be totally broken down in one to two months. Unlike other bio-derived plastics, BC doesnt require specific industrial composting conditions to deteriorate.
