Biodegradable plastic

2001/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Materialak
• Kimika

A team of scientists from the Biotechnology Department of the University of Milan has developed a biodegradable plastic manufacturing system by 92.7%. The main component is the natural cork extract that degrades in less than twenty days and also does not emit CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) to the atmosphere. This new plastic can be broken down into water and carbon dioxide.

Professor Luca Mattia is responsible for the project. Mattia explained that the maximum level achieved in the trials carried out to date has been 60%, in all of them CFC was emitted. On this occasion they have managed to reach 92.7%, without emitting pollutants. The results of the research carried out in Milan were presented at the congress on ecological technologies held in September at the University of Palo Alto (USA).