Revolutionary plastic that dissolves in seawater in hours

A plastic that is resistant to use, but which degrades completely in sea water in a few hours with the main components that can be recovered and recycled

A team of researchers headed by Takuzo Aida from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and the University of Tokyo has prepared a new plastic material that is resistant to degradation in use but breaks down completely in seawater within a few hours.

Microplastic pollution: taking it on

This material directly addresses the microplastic pollution issue, which is a major leap toward overcoming plastic waste. Groundbreaking plastic is made from supramolecular chemistry and with polymers that have reversible ionic bonds.

These bonds, which are stable under normal conditions, dissolve rapidly when exposed to electrolytes like seawater. The manufacturing process uses two biodegradable monomers-one commonly used as a food additive and one derived from guanidinium. Dissolved in saltwater, the plastic decomposes into its basic components, which can be largely recovered and recycled.

Acts as fertilizer after decomposition in soil

The material features performance properties that are either comparable to or better than conventional plastics. Its strength, ductility, and adaptability make it suitable for a wide range of applications, including packaging, medical devices, and 3D printing. Moreover, it is nontoxic, nonflammable, and can be easily molded at high temperatures, making it an environmentally friendly and practical alternative to traditional plastics.

What was truly unique about this plastic is its function of acting like a fertilizer when it decomposed in soil, releasing some very essential nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen. Laboratory trials indicated that the material was completely degraded in soil in about 10 days without any remnants of microplastic traces.

A timely solution to marine pollution

This development came at a very critical moment when the awareness of microplastics’ devastating influence on marine ecosystems and human health was growing rapidly. If adopted on large scales, this new material could significantly reduce marine pollution, reducing global reliance on conventional plastics.

Source: RIKEN