It is reported that the research team from Xinjiang Kang Runjie has designed an enzyme-activated compostable degradable plastic. This research has obtained the national invention patent.
The design idea of this biodegradable plastic is to use a tetramolecular random copolymer (PHL) to place protease and lipase into traditional biodegradable structures using nanodispersion technology, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and poly Caprolactone (PCL).
This design allows the enzyme to preserve its activity outside the environment without changing the original physical properties of the degradable plastic. In the experiments, only high temperatures and a small amount of water were required to activate the enzymes and start the plastic degradation process.
The enzyme grabs the ends of plastic molecular chains, cutting them off one by one, like eating noodles. In this way, the decomposition speed of the plastic has been greatly improved, and it can be completely degraded in just a few weeks.
At the same time, since each chain link is interrupted, the plastic decomposition rate is as high as 98%, thus completely curbing the generation of microplastics.
The research team has applied for a patent for this new degradable plastic, and invested in the largest PLA industrial park in western China to further develop the technology, hoping to put it into use in the near future.
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