Shellfish make great plastic; Research out of Australia

Posted On: September 2, 2010

Biodegradable plastic bags are still a rarity and a long way from replacing the tough conventional plastic variety manufactured from non-renewable resources.

It is this toughness, or durability, that still makes conventional bags the norm and a worsening environmental headache. Plastic packaging accounts for up to 25 per cent of Australia’s municipal landfill.

Researchers at Swinburne University of Technology believe science might offer a solution. The university is supporting two research projects investigating bioplastics: one into the use of ingredients from renewable sources, and another into the properties of biopolymers that determine their ‘compostability’.

The two projects have brought together Swinburne PhD students Suchetana Chattopadhyay and Cameron Way, who are examining the properties of bioplastics as part of their respective PhD studies. The Director of Swinburne’s Environment and Biotechnology Centre, Associate Professor Palombo, is co-supervisor for both students and describes their work as among the most exciting applied projects he has encountered during his 20-year research career.

Chitin is the world’s second-most abundant natural polymer and is mostly derived from shellfish waste, but also includes the exoskeletons of crustaceans, insects and spiders.

In collaboration with an industry partner, Ms Chattopadhyay has provided the first direct evidence of true biodegradability in novel, chitin-based polymers.

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From Issue 11 • Categories: Tags: Aquapreneur, biodegradable, biomaterials, chitin • No Comments