Scientists have developed a plastic with a degree of degradability never seen before

Accumulation of plastic and the pollution it creates This is one of the greatest problems that humanity must solve today.where our dependence on it has led to the creation of disturbing garbage.

Today, unnecessary and excessive amounts of plastic continue to be produced, and Fortunately, biodegradable plastics have come into vogue, although not all are 100% compliant. what does this term mean, since many can only be decomposed in an industrial setting.

That is why a group of scientists from the University of Bath took up the work. look for plastic that can degrade when exposed to ultraviolet lightpresent in their own sunlight to try to decompose them in natural conditions.

PLA (polylactic acid) is the most widely used plastic today and is a commercially sustainable and renewable plastic (not entirely) today. it is used in products such as cups, bags, packaging and even 3D printing..

The bad thing about them is that, for example on land, in ocean waters or seas, they do not decompose, high temperature and humidity are required for decompositionwhich usually requires special equipment and an industrial site.

This group of scientists at the University of Bath’s Center for Sustainable and Circular Technologies has developed a way to make this plastic more biodegradable. thereby contributing to its degradability.

By enabling different number of sugar molecules in the polymer increased the decomposition up to 40%. within six hours of the creation of the plastic under ultraviolet exposure.

Among the advantages of this technique is that fully compatible with existing plastics manufacturing processeswhich will not incur excessive costs on the part of companies for its implementation, practically avoiding the need to conduct tests on it, creating its smooth adaptation.

This group of scientists is aiming to make this project possible to apply to real plastic objects and for degradation to be as effective as possible against sunlight, using the small amount of ultraviolet light that it suggests, and do away with it once and for all. for this enormous and irresistible pollution that today’s society produces.