In the past year, I have read a number of articles in various publications about a new breakthrough in plastic manufacturing. Organic and biological chemists have genetically modified plants to synthesize polymers which can be harvested and used to manufacture plastics. "Making plastics from plants is not a new idea," said Brian Mooney, research assistant professor of biochemistry with the MU Interdisciplinary Plant Group. "Plastics made from plant starch and soy protein have been used as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics for a while. What is relatively new - and exciting - is the idea of using plants to actually grow plastics."
The scientists have modified the genetic material in Arabidopsis thaliana, a small, flowered plant to produce three enzymes. Working together these three enzymes synthesize polyhydroxybutyrate-co-polyhydroxyvalerate, or PHBV. PHBV is a mailable plastic with potential applications as grocery bags, soda bottles, disposable razors and flatware. Perhaps the strongest selling point: when discarded, the plastic is naturally degraded into water and carbon dioxide by bacteria in the soil!
This breakthrough could have a significant impact on the global economy. Dependence on foreign petroleum for plastic production would drop, and previously useless fields of weeds or grass could become very profitable. And wouldn't it be nice if we knew that all of the plastic we use everyday would just disintegrate naturally once we are done with it?
Gotta love chemistry.
Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090211122145.htm
Journal: http://www.biochemj.org/bj/418/0219/4180219.pdf
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This sounds really interesting. Did the researchers look at any other already proposed bio-degradable plastics to see if their form would be more effecient and beneficial? Just wondering. But bio-degradable razors, man that would definitely help decrease the amount of waste in land fills.
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