Better Plastics

We have been using plastics for more than 100 years now. They seem to be irreplaceable because of long shelf life and high durability. Sadly, plastics pollute the environment because most plastics are non-biodegradable and cannot be managed by recycling. A ban on plastics could be a short-term solution but bioplastics will perhaps be a longer-term solution. However, bioplastics are costly, have lower strength and higher water absorption.

Researchers at IIT Kanpur have improved bioplastics by changing a method of cross-linking them. Cross-linking is the same method that hardens rubber; the more bonds a plastic has, the more its strength and durability. The new method uses easy-to-get, eco-friendly and water soluble citric acid as the cross-linker for agarose. The research team has filed a patent to claim exclusive rights for using and selling the method because it is new and useful.

Reference: Carbohydrate Polymers 151: 60-67

Published- Current Science.