Agricultural waste becomes derivative of biomass derivatives, and its uses are widely degraded

Science Fiction Network June 27 (Qin Yingying) From the ocean to the land, from the Antarctic to the North Pole, the soil, river, air, and even human and various creatures were found in the body of plastic. Our earth has become a "plastic planet". The large and small plastic is poisoning countless birds, beasts, fish and insects, as well as humans. In order to get rid of the predicament of plastic pollution, scientists have been looking for alternatives.

Recently, under the leadership of Professor Jerry Lutbach of the Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland, researchers have developed a biomass derivatives similar to PET (polyphylebenate glycol). It meets the standards that replace several existing plastics and are more environmentally friendly.

The characteristics of traditional plastic durability, light quality, and easy forming make it an ideal material for many industrial products and daily necessities. It is also commonly used in packaging of food and other products. Whether under high temperature or low temperature conditions, plastic can maintain its own characteristics, and different components determine its toughness and hardness. However, plastic is now mainly used for packaging and disposable products. In daily life, many items are only used once, and the use time is very short, and then thrown into the trash can, resulting in "white pollution".

Researchers say that cheap chemicals are processed with plant materials such as agricultural waste. Acetalty acid can use the "sticky" group to clamp the sugar molecule in the middle, so as to act as a plastic component. By maintaining the integrity of the sugar structure in the molecular structure of plastic, this chemical method is much lower than the current production method of plastic substitution. This simple technology can convert up to 25%of agricultural waste or 95%of pure sugar into plastic.

The omnipotence of new plastics enables them to be used for various applications such as packaging, textiles, medicine, and electronic products. Researchers have manufactured fibers in packaging films, fibers that can make clothes or other textiles, and filaments for 3D printing. This plastic is easy to make or degrade due to its complete sugar structure.

- END -