A team of international researchers have created a biodegradable material made of bacteria that can decompose at the end of its useful life. This “living plastic” is a soft thermoplastic polyurethane material that can be used in commercial products such as footwear, mats, cushions, and memory foams. The material is made up of bacterial spores from a strain of ‘Bacillus subtilis’, a common soil bacteria that can break down the plastic when exposed to nutrients in compost.
The researchers used bacterial spores because of their ability to survive harsh environmental conditions. These spores have a protective protein shield that allows them to survive in a vegetative state. In the study, the researchers combined the bacterial spores and thermoplastic polyurethane granules in a pressing machine where they were mixed and melted. The resulting material was then tested for biodegradability by placing it in compost, where it degraded by 90% in five months.
The researchers are now working on optimizing the process to produce this biodegradable plastic material on an industrial scale. They believe that the remains of the degraded material, which contain ‘Bacillus subtilis’, would be harmless to humans, animals, and plants. The bacterial spores used in the study were modified to withstand high temperatures required for polymer production, making them more suitable for industrial use.
In conclusion, this new biodegradable plastic material provides a sustainable solution to environmental problem of plastic pollution by self-destructing at the end of its useful life.