New bioplastics that degrade in the same time frame as a banana peel have been developed at the University of Washington (UW). Researchers used heat and pressure to make bioplastics from powdered blue-green cyanobacteria cells, otherwise known as spirulina. UW said their bioplastics have mechanical properties that are comparable to single-use, petroleum-derived plastics.
“We were motivated to create bioplastics that are both bio-derived and biodegradable in our backyards, while also being processable, scalable and recyclable,” said senior author Eleftheria Roumeli, UW assistant professor of materials science and engineering. Spirulina was chosen to be used in the new bioplastics because of its ability to sequester carbon dioxide as cells grow which makes the biomass a carbon-neutral feedstock for plastics.
“When exposed to fire, it instantly self-extinguishes, unlike many traditional plastics that either combust or melt,” said Hareesh Iyer, a UW materials science and engineering doctoral student. “This fire-resistant characteristic makes spirulina-based plastics advantageous for applications where traditional plastics may not be suitable due to their flammability.”