Reusable paper bags are a viable alternative to plastics

Jaya Tripathi, PhD candidate in biorenewable systems, researching ways to increase glucose yield in biofuels, from Pennsylvania State University, USA, accidentally solved a serious environmental problem: How can we replace the five trillion plastic bags used in the world each year with a paper alternative that can be reused multiple times?

“I noticed that the strength of the paper increased as I scorched the pulse. That made me think it would probably be fine for packaging, which is a completely different application.” with a short life cycle, especially when wet.

The research, published April 19 in the journal Resources, Conservation and Recycling, details how scientists were able to improve it through chemical manipulation and inexpensive forms of heat. a paper that is strong enough to be reused several times, is water resistant and can be used as a good source of biofuels at the end of the cycle.

How did scientists develop the new reusable paper?

to discover Non-chemical and environmentally friendly techniques to increase the moisture resistance of paperTripathi and his colleagues at Penn State went on to explore roasting, in which the pulp is slowly heated in an oxygen-poor area.

At 40 minutes of exposure, the wet tensile strength of the paper peaked at 1533% at 200 °C, but began to decline above this temperature. Because the product reduces the yield of glucose as a biofuel, the researchers treated the product with an alkaline sodium hydroxide solution that increased the biomass substrate (at 200º C) from 690 mg/g to 933 mg/g.

The experiment made the paper stronger and found a use for it after it was destroyed. This can cover the environmental costs of producing the product and still make it a viable alternative to plastic.