Plastic decomposes in sea water faster than paper

For years, researchers have been searching for the fastest biodegradable plastic in the marine environment when millions of tons of plastic are flowing into the ocean every year. Now, a team of scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) discovered that CDA is the fastest-degrading plastic in seawater, technically classified as bioplastic. However, they also accelerated the decomposition of this material thanks to a simple modification technique called “foaming”, making it more porous, New Atlas reported on October 18.

CDA, or cellulose diacetate, is made from cellulose – a natural polymer found in plant cell walls, especially in cotton or wood pulp. CDA has been around since the late 1800s and is used in a wide variety of items, from cigarette filters (the most common use) to sunglasses frames, photographic film, and millions of other things in everyday life.

In a new study, a team of experts made foam CDA decompose 15 times faster than solid form, even faster than paper. New research published in the journal ACS Publications.

“We’ve put fundamental knowledge into designing a new material that both meets consumer needs and degrades in the ocean faster than any other plastic material we know of, even faster.” paper,” Collin Ward, lead author of the study, said.

During a 36-week test, when placed in tanks filled with continuously flowing seawater, the CDA foam lost 65 – 70% of its original mass. Another common plastic found in every ocean in the world, Styrofoam, does not decompose in the same amount of time.

In the new study, Ward and other WHOI scientists collaborated with bioplastics manufacturing company Eastman, who provided materials, sponsored and was a co-author. The study was conducted in a controlled laboratory environment. The authors controlled lighting, temperature and many other factors to simulate ocean conditions.

New research will help industries reduce their use of traditional plastics and move towards more environmentally friendly alternatives. The success of foam CDA shows that this material can be used in many products, helping to reduce the amount of difficult-to-decompose plastic waste in the sea. Eastman has now produced a biodegradable and compostable tray from CDA foam instead of the conventional foam tray used for meat packaging – a tray that does not biodegrade in any natural environment. , whether on land or under sea.