Novel plastic disintegrates in a week in sunlight and oxygen

[lordsummerisle]

https://newatlas.com

By making alterations to the plastic manufacturing process, scientists hope to produce forms of the ubiquitous material that can break down far more safely and quickly in the environment than current versions do.

https://newatlas.com/materials/novel-plastic-disintegrates-week-sunlight-oxygen/

[Under The Radar]

1. In a week? At least allow me to put the oil in my car first?!

[hlthe2b]

2. I may well get some satisfaction from neighbors who inexplicably stack up filled doggy bags by their

Last edited Sun Jul 18, 2021, 11:27 PM - Edit history (1)

front door (to presumedly eventually throw in the garbage IN BULK)... I just do NOT understand this, but.... yuck.

But with bags disintegrating within a week, I'm guessing that practice might stop.

[bigendian]

3. Still a problem.

No matter how far it degrades it is still there. Even at the molecular level it becomes part of the environment and part of us.

[eppur_se_muova]

4. This material degrades entirely to succinic acid, a natural part of the Krebs cycle.

In other words, most organisms can metabolize it, and in fact many produce it themselves.

Succinic acid is already part of the environment, since all eukaryotes use the Krebs cycle.



Summary: Not a problem.

[bigendian]

5. Thanks. I hope this novel plastic can be used in the future.

How do plastics currently in use break down?