The planet is suffering from rapidly growing plastic garbage. But thankfully, two scientists have developed a new technology that can turn plastic waste into food, instead of dumping it into the ocean. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign bioengineer Ting Lu and Michigan Technological University biologist Stephen Techtmann were awarded the 2021 Future Insight Prize for this technology.
Is it actually edible?
The scientist duo claims their tech can convert plastic into edible protein. The technology could curb the endless production of plastic that hasn’t slowed down in decades, notes Zenger News. The tech is dependent on what Lu calls microbial synthetic biology, which relies on gene-hacked microbes to break down molecules of plastic waste and convert them into protein.
While it might not sound like the food anyone wants to eat, but the end result is the same kind of edible protein that we consume on a daily basis, regardless of where it came from. The scientists behind the tech are also hoping to make some adjustments to their tech that will enable them to convert plastic to sources of fuel, reports Zenger.
Other techniques to stop plastic pollution
Besides, scientists in the US have developed the first truly biodegradable plastic. They claim the plastic breaks down in a few weeks under water and heat, which can help reduce plastic pollution happening around the world. The existing compostable plastics do not break down because of the polyester called polylactic acid present in them. However, the newly developed plastic comes embedded with polyester-eating enzymes, which are placed during their production process.
When the new plastic is exposed to water and heat, the enzymes are released ensuring the plastic breaks down into particles. The enzymes turn the plastic into lactic acid, which also enriches soil microbes. The team suggests that the enzyme wrappers will also break down under UV radiation. The team also assured that the new plastic does not break into microplastics and 98 percent of it breaks down into small molecules.
