Prof Moshe Kolof of Tel Aviv University’s School of Chemistry is developing techniques to convert corn starch and sugar for use in plastics. The research is producing tougher and more biodegradable plastics to compete with conventional plastics derived from petrochemicals.
The developments of a range of new catalysts is responsible these advances. These catalysts will be used to polymerize lactide to produce polylactic acid (PLA), which is biodegradable and can be used in a wide range of applications, from plastic bags to clothing. The advances made by Prof Kolof and his team are producing plastics that are tougher and with higher resistance to heat; potentially widening the applications that PLA can be used for. PLA produced with the new catalysts resembles polystyrene in terms of its properties.
Existing catalysts provide little control on the way that the lactide monomers assemble; the innovation in these new catalysts is that they allow greater control of this reaction and efficiently improve the properties and safety of the final product. TAU is currently partnering with the German University of Aachen and with the University of Bath in the UK to develop the technology. The aim is to develop the technology to the point that this non-toxic, renewable plastic can compete with, and replace, conventional petrochemical based plastics.
High performance plastics are becoming more important in modern applications. In several applications plastics are replacing steel or concrete; for example replacing metal parts of cars with lightweight plastic parts reduces fuel consumption. Most new items disposable and are not used for longer than a few weeks, ideally these items and their packaging would be made of easily biodegradable materials such as PLA.
The developments of a range of new catalysts is responsible these advances. These catalysts will be used to polymerize lactide to produce polylactic acid (PLA), which is biodegradable and can be used in a wide range of applications, from plastic bags to clothing. The advances made by Prof Kolof and his team are producing plastics that are tougher and with higher resistance to heat; potentially widening the applications that PLA can be used for. PLA produced with the new catalysts resembles polystyrene in terms of its properties.
Existing catalysts provide little control on the way that the lactide monomers assemble; the innovation in these new catalysts is that they allow greater control of this reaction and efficiently improve the properties and safety of the final product. TAU is currently partnering with the German University of Aachen and with the University of Bath in the UK to develop the technology. The aim is to develop the technology to the point that this non-toxic, renewable plastic can compete with, and replace, conventional petrochemical based plastics.
High performance plastics are becoming more important in modern applications. In several applications plastics are replacing steel or concrete; for example replacing metal parts of cars with lightweight plastic parts reduces fuel consumption. Most new items disposable and are not used for longer than a few weeks, ideally these items and their packaging would be made of easily biodegradable materials such as PLA.
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