NEW ECO-FRIENDLY PLASTIC MADE FROM SUGAR

Researchers at the University of Birmingham (UK) and Duke University (USA) have developed a new type of plastic material from environmentally friendly materials derived from sugar.

According to the aforementioned study, plastic from sugar has "unprecedented" mechanical properties, which are maintained throughout conventional recycling processes. In the process of researching sustainable plastics, the researchers turned to sugar alcohols. These organic compounds have a chemical structure similar to sugar, but scientists found they offer some unique benefits for plastic production.

Photo: Illustrated

The two compounds are iodide and isomannide, both have hard rings of atoms that can be used as raw materials for a new line of polymers. Polymers from iodides are as hard and malleable as ordinary plastics with the same strength as high-grade engineering plastics. In particular, polymers from isomannide have similar strength and ductility, but with a high degree of elasticity that allows the polymer to return to shape after being deformed. The characteristics of both polymers are maintained after going through the common recycling processes of pulverization and heat treatment.

Plastic produced from sugar is expected to be a sustainable alternative not only in production but also in processing. Meanwhile, plastic from petroleum takes centuries to decompose. The team has filed a patent application for this technology and is looking for industry partners for commercial implementation.

The study was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

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