[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/EW-04-17-14-Plastic-from-Shrimp.mp3|titles=EW 04-17-14 Plastic from Shrimp]
Petroleum is not just used in fuels— it is an integral part of a broad range of products that we use every day. Common plastics are a prime example. So, in order to get away from our dependence on oil, we need alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.
Bioplastics are plastics made from renewable biomass, such as vegetable fats and oils, cornstarch, and other natural substances such as ethanol derived from agricultural feedstock. In principle, bioplastics are biodegradable, unlike petroleum plastics, and are generally regarded as more sustainable. However, widespread use of these bioplastics could represent a major drain on our forests and food crops.
Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute have recently developed a technique for producing a fully biodegradable bioplastic made from shrimp shells. Whereas most bioplastics are made from cellulose, the new bioplastic is made from chitin, which forms the shells of crustaceans and insects. Shrimp shells represent a plentiful source of chitin.
The new bioplastic process has overcome previous limitations of chitin-based materials, which have been difficult to fabricate into complex three-dimensional shapes. The new plastic is based on the chitosan polymer and appears to be suitable for large-scale manufacturing using standard techniques like casting or injection molding. The next step for the Harvard group is to take the process out of the laboratory and move it to a commercial manufacturing facility with an industrial partner.
If these efforts succeed, some day our cell phones, toys, and soda bottles will be made from discarded shrimp shells.
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Manufacturing a solution to planet-clogging plastics
Photo, taken April 29, 2006, courtesy of Phu Tinh Co via Flickr.
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Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Support for Earth Wise comes from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY.