Scientists from the renowned Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have discovered a type of polymer known as Polydiketoenamine or PDK. According to their groundbreaking research, it is a type of recyclable plastic, which is certainly a phenomenon, considering that 90% of the existing plastic remains non-recyclable. Thus, their discovery contributes to the potential improvement of serious pollution problems that negatively affect the environment.
The creation of the specialists at the Lawrence Berkeley Lab has certainly sparked the interest of a myriad of people, especially those who are deeply fascinated with the idea of keeping our planet alive. In the subsequent sections, we’ll deliver further information about PDK and researchers’ work. Plus, we’ll mention some of the key benefits that may be associated with the integration of this material into people’s lives.
What Exactly is PDK?
As mentioned earlier, Polydiketoenamine or PDK is a type of polymer developed by researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the US. The revolutionary nature of this new plastic lies in its infinite recyclability, which can seriously affect the increasing crisis of pollution. The scientists have used an intriguing approach to come up with their discovery.
According to the information we’ve gathered, researchers engineered a type of bacteria, namely Escherichia Coli, in order to create raw materials from bio-renewable plastics with the help of plant-derived sugars. Their aim was to come up with an alternative to the environmentally damaging petrochemicals that currently have an incredibly negative impact on the world we live in.
Based on their investigation, the newly developed Polydiketoenamine surpasses petrochemicals due to several reasons. The most important one is the fact that PDK is biodegradable, which can result in the polymer substituting all of its polluting rivals out there. Without a doubt, we can say that this discovery can be a reason for a much brighter and cleaner future for our planet.
The staff scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and leader of the project said that this is the very first time a bio-based PDK has been found. The scientist also said that this is the perfect alternative to petrochemicals, not only because it’s less polluting but also because it’s much cheaper to produce. According to his words, PDK can be deconstructed and constructed numerous times without losing its effectiveness and quality.
Another team member of the project shared her thoughts on the potential benefits of using PDK for the production of various products. The researcher believes that this type of bio-recyclable plastic can have a major impact on pollution, as the carbon dioxide emitted for its production is much less than that of plastic made with fossil fuels. Unfortunately, as statistics show, more than 99% of plastic in the world is made from fossil fuel chemicals.
How Can Recyclable Plastic Benefit Our Planet?
Although many people try to completely eliminate plastic from their everyday lives, this is incredibly difficult, if not impossible. The reason why plastic is used so commonly is because of its flexibility, convenience, and relatively cheap price. Nonetheless, as most of you know, the production of plastic is one of the most polluting activities. Furthermore, materials made from plastic do not degrade for years, which seriously harms the environment.
According to research conducted by Plastic Oceans International, more than 380 million tons of plastic is produced on a yearly basis. Experts suggest that this figure can increase tremendously in the next few decades, resulting in a massive increase in environmental pollution. Therefore, the type of recyclable plastic discovered by the scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory can have a major positive impact on our planet. Here are the main reasons for this:
- Production of PDK emits less carbon dioxide.
- PDK can be used for the production of numerous items we use in our daily lives.
- PDK can be recycled over and over again.
- PDK’s reduced resource demand contributes to the conservation of natural resources.
As you can see, these are all of paramount importance. Consequently, this groundbreaking discovery holds immense potential to positively impact our planet. It remains to be seen whether PDK will find broader application across different industries. According to the scientists who have worked on this project, PDK can be used for the production of cables, construction materials, sports gear, and various automotive parts.